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'Out of shape' Lukaku named in Belgium World Cup squad
Brussels, Belgium: Belgium coach Rudi Garcia named Romelu Lukaku in his World Cup squad on Friday despite saying Belgium's all-time record goalscorer was "out of shape". akupunkturabielsko.pl
Lukaku, who has scored 89 goals in 124 international appearances, has struggled for form and fitness at Serie A club Napoli this season.
The 33-year-old former Inter Milan and Chelsea forward has only played 69 minutes of first-team football in 2026 and is currently sidelined by a hip injury.
"Romelu has recovered, but he's out of shape, and I'm not sure he'll be able to start the matches. But he's our best striker, Belgium's all-time leading scorer," Frenchman Garcia told reporters.
"We have five weeks to get him back to full fitness so that little by little he can help the team."
Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo was given a maiden call-up after opting to switch nationality, having previously played for Spain's Under-21s.
Lois Openda, who has played 33 times for Belgium, is a notable absentee after scoring just once in 24 Serie A appearances this season on loan at Juventus from RB Leipzig.
There are few other surprises in Garcia's 26-man squad, with Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Jeremy Doku all included.
Belgium kick off their World Cup campaign against Egypt in Seattle on June 15, before taking on Iran and New Zealand in Group G in Los Angeles and Vancouver respectively.
The Red Devils crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage, plagued by infighting as the 'golden generation' failed miserably in their final bid for a major title.
Nuno wants VAR 'consistency' as West Ham fight to avoid relegation
London: West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants VAR decisions to show more consistency after his relegation-haunted side were denied a crucial equaliser against Arsenal.
Nuno's team thought they had rescued a valuable 1-1 draw with the Premier League leaders last weekend when Callum Wilson netted in stoppage-time.
But Wilson's goal was disallowed after Pablo was penalised for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Adding to Nuno's frustration after the 1-0 loss, separate unpunished potential fouls occurred during the same phase of play, which could have earned his men a penalty -- prompting West Ham to complain to referees' body the PGMOL.
And on Friday, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel also said the Hammers should have been awarded two penalties during their 3-0 defeat at Brentford a week earlier.
"We made a complaint," admitted Nuno, whose third-bottom side are two points behind fourth-bottom Tottenham with only two games left.
"I think it was normal that we did it, to try to find some answers to some questions that creates a lot of doubts.
"What is needed, and we're going to speak about referees and VAR, is consistency. It would help the game, it would help the Premier League, it would help first and foremost the players.
"They have to realise, they have to understand that there are no doubts, no frustrations."
West Ham travel to Newcastle on Sunday knowing a victory would lift them out of the relegation zone, before Tottenham face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
France-born Bouaddi approved to play for Morocco before World Cup
Rabat: France-born Ayyoub Bouaddi has been approved to play for Morocco less than a month before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed Friday they had received approval from world football governing body FIFA's Status Chamber to change Bouaddi's sporting nationality, making him immediately eligible to represent Morocco in all international competitions.
"This decision means Ayyoub Bouaddi is officially and immediately eligible to represent the Moroccan national team during various international competitions," the FRMF statement added.
Born in Senlis, north of Paris, to Moroccan parents, 18-year-old Bouaddi plays for French Ligue 1 club Lille.
Before choosing Morocco, the midfielder played for the French under-21 team.
Morocco became the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.
The Atlas Lions open their campaign on June 13 in New Jersey against Brazil in Group C which also includes Scotland and Haiti.