World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 64,406

World Cup | Third-place Match

Jul 14, 2018 at 3pm UK

Belgium
2-0
England

Meunier (4'), Hazard (82')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Roberto Martinez: 'Romelu Lukaku not chasing individual awards'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor

Published: July 13 2018 | 20:31

Last updated: July 15 2018 | 09:55

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez insists that Romelu Lukaku is more interested in helping his side claim third place at the World Cup than winning the Golden Boot.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that finishing third at the World Cup is more important to Romelu Lukaku than winning the Golden Boot.

Lukaku currently trails Harry Kane by two goals in the race for the top-scorer at the World Cup, and the two are due to face off on Saturday when Belgium take on England in the third-place playoff.

However, Martinez believes that the Manchester United forward has proved he is more interested in team success than individual glory throughout this summer's World Cup.

"Romelu is here to help the team perform, not for individual awards," Martinez told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"We don't look at that sort of reward and Romelu is the first to show that with his play. We had a moment against Japan where Romelu has the ball in the box, the last second of the game. Any striker that thinks he has 50% chance of a goal takes that, but he made one of the best assists in the tournament.

"Other awards are more interesting to us. To be able to finish third, the best finish for the Belgian national team, would be an achievement we salute more than individual awards."

Lukaku has scored 23 goals in his 23 international appearances under Martinez, although he has failed to find the back of the net in his last three.