A heartbroken Romelu Lukaku has cancelled his holiday to immediately return to Inter Milan after he failed to deliver in Belgium's must-win World Cup clash against Croatia.
The 29-year-old missed a handful of chances in the second-half as Roberto Martinez's men were held to a goalless draw at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. It was a result that saw Belgium crash out of the competition despite being the No.2 ranked side in the world before the tournament, with Croatia and Morocco going through.
He fired a right-footed shot off the post when presented with an open goal to begin his second-half of disappointment, before heading over the top from six yards when the goal was again gaping, although it wouldn't have counted as De Bruyne's cross had gone out of play.
Lukaku flicked wide from four yards late on when the ball arrived at him quickly, before missing the biggest sitter of all. Thorgan Hazard hung up a cross to the far post and Lukaku mis-controlled on his chest, allowing the chance to go begging. He was denied again by Josko Gvardiol's brilliant last-ditch tackle in the closing moments.
It was a disastrous performance from Lukaku, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Manchester United man has decided not to go on holiday following Belgium's World Cup exit and will immediately return to Inter to start preparations for the second half of the season. He will return to Italy in the coming days and could be back in training sometime next week as he tries to get back to his best.
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The all-time Belgium striker is desperate to reach full fitness and play an important role for Inter in the second half of this season as they battle for the Serie A title. Lukaku hasn't played many minutes so far this campaign, having missed three months with a hamstring injury.
Jermaine Jenas and Alan Shearer were particularly critical of Lukaku's performance. "He's only played 31 minutes since August so he's nowhere near fit," said Shearer on BBC One. "It can't be put down just to him, because Belgium were miles off. They were nowhere near good enough."
Former Tottenham midfielder Jenas added: "Belgium's campaign as a whole hasn't been good enough. They threw everything at it in the end but the experience of this Croatia side just about got them over the line.
"There are distraught players in that Belgium side but when they look at themselves in the mirror they'll realise it just was not good enough and that is why they're out."
