Lukaku’s “No” to friendly games: Robust striker drops out of Belgium squad
International breaks aren’t much loved among football fans, who would prefer club football, but if you ask players, they’ll tell you that it’s something they look forward to.Going back home, perhaps catching up with their families and friends, and, of course, training, playing, and hanging out with compatriots from the national team – what’s there not to like?However, sometimes a player has to put his well-being in the first place and make a difficult decision to turn down a call-up.Teary-eyed Lukaku: “Losing my father like I did is hard every day”For instance, while a large group of Arsenal players (William Saliba, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard) stayed in London to focus on their recovery from injuries, Martin Odegaard decided to do the same – although able to play – and regain fitness, which Norway boss Stale Solbakken absolutely supported.A few days after the Gunners’ captain, Romelu Lukaku, made the same move and dropped out of the Belgium squad for friendly mat..