Former Livorno striker Cristiano Lucarelli has revealed that he is looking forward to watching Belgium play in the World Cup, despite fitness doubts surrounding Inter’s Romelu Lukaku.
The Red Devils kick off their campaign against Canada on Wednesday, before facing Morocco and Croatia in Group F, and are amongst the early tips to go far in the tournament in Qatar this winter.
In an interview published in today’s newspaper edition of Corriere dello Sport, the former Italy international offered his assessment on Roberto Martinez’s side and felt they played a brand of attacking football, which surpassed that of the favourites for the World Cup.
“I’ll cheer for who plays the better football,” Lucarelli claimed.
“Do you know who I expect great football from? More than from the big national teams, I expect it from Belgium, who won’t have any particular pressure and tension on them.
“They will be able to show all their technical qualities with very strong players.”
Inter striker Lukaku has struggled for fitness since returning from Chelsea on loan last summer, with the 29-year-old suffering a thigh strain in August and a recurrence last month, to limit him to just five appearances.
With his World Cup place in doubt, Lukaku has worked to prove his fitness for the World Cup, but Lucarelli looked towards Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard as the dangermen.
“I don’t know if they will be able to have Lukaku or when he might be available, but De Bruyne and Eden Hazard are a guarantee,” the Ternana coach added.
Lucarelli made six appearances for the Italian national team between 2005 and 2007, scoring three goals.
