FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Romelu Lukaku marked his return to the pitch after a long spell out with injury with a goal. The Belgium striker scored in the 96th minute of a friendly against Croatia, sealing his side's 2-0 victory.
The 33-year-old has been out of action since September 2025 due to a hip injury. Throughout the entire season with his club, he had only accumulated 64 minutes of action.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia decided to start Lukaku from the bench in the match on the Adriatic coast, entrusting the offensive department to Charles De Ketelaere.
Belgium took the lead in the 38th minute through Youri Tielemans. On the other hand, Croatia created dangerous chances, especially with captain Luka Modrić, who played with a face mask due to an injury, and came close to scoring just before half-time.
In the second half of the game, the Croats continued to search for an equalizer. Ante Budimir hit the post around the 60th minute, missing the best opportunity for the home team.
As the match drew to a close, Lukaku made his mark. In the 96th minute, he scored Belgium's second goal, registering his 90th goal for the national team.
Both teams are continuing their preparations for the World Cup, aiming to reach optimal form before the tournament begins. Croatia will face England on June 17 in one of their first matches in the competition.
Colombia also registered a win, beating Costa Rica 3-1, with Luis Diaz among the goals. Canada also took on fellow participant Uzbekistan, coached by Cannavaro. Osorio and Nelson were the goalscorers for the country that will also host this summer's event.
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