Belgium appeared to be heading for a disappointing exit after falling 2-0 behind, a deficit they maintained until the 86th minute, when Lukaku halved the deficit. Tielemans then equalised three minutes late to send the game to extra time, and Belgium eventually outlasted Senegal to progress. When asked about the chaotic nature of the win, Lukaku joked that he was fed up with such stressful matches.
“I’m sorry to say it this way, but we had a big pair of b***s. That is exactly what you need in matches of this magnitude. I’ve honestly had enough of these heart-stopping games,” he joked, drawing instant historical parallels to Belgium’s iconic 2018 World Cup comeback triumph against Japan.
