The result was largely meaningless. Coming a week after the terrorist attack in Brussels, Belgium went down 2-1 to Portugal in a friendly match, originally due to have been played in the Belgian capital but held instead in the Portuguese city of Leiria. Given the emotion of the occasion, the score did not matter. What shone through was the desire to fight for the shirt and the solidarity of an entire country, a whole team and a united Belgian family, symbolised by the Lukaku brothers.
Belgium were trailing 2-0 when left-back Jordan Lukaku received the ball down the left flank and sent in a first-time cross that his brother Romelu nodded home for a goal that signified both hope and honour.
“We’ve obviously been dreaming of a moment like that ever since we were little, ever since we played in the youth teams,” the goalscorer told the media at the end of the night. “The team was delighted, and it was a big moment for us, despite the defeat. All the same, we felt a bit disappointed at the result afterwards.”
Speaking to FIFA.com a few days earlier, Jordan had said of the occasion: “It means a lot to play in the Diables Rouges jersey, but the chance to play alongside your brother too makes it even more special.”
Had the chance to put in some extra work on the pitch with my brother. It's just training but simple things like that make me happy
— jordan lukaku (@J_Lukaku94) March 25, 2016
Tuesday’s friendly was the first time the two siblings had played together for their country. While Romelu, the older of the two, had been a part of the national team since 2010, Jordan has taken a little more time to make his presence felt at the highest level.
“I’m only 20 and I’m still young; I’m still learning,” said the KV Ostende defender. “Experience and maturity only come with time. My new club coach, Yves Vanderhaeghe, and his style of play, have really helped me flourish this season, though. I’ve got more freedom, both when I defend and when I get forward, which has helped me develop my game.”
The revelation of this season’s Belgian Pro League, Jordan is just the latest young phenomenon to roll off the country’s production line, which has been so prolific in recent years. Like his older brother, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and the many other members of Belgium’s golden generation, of which he is the youngest member by just a few months, Jordan has represented his country at every age level. And while his promotion to the senior side has taken some time, that can be put down to the fact that his position, as a defender, is one that requires more in the way of experience.
“On a technical level, he’s better than me. He’s a left-back who’s both powerful and skilful,” said Romelu of his sibling a little while ago.
“He needs to stop talking about me like that because it puts a lot of pressure on me. People’s expectations are going to be too high,” replied Jordan, the younger of the Lukakus, with a smile. “As far as I’m concerned, Romelu’s compliments are the kind of comments you’d expect a big brother to make. I can assure you, though, that he’s exaggerating. He just means to say that I’m a good player.”
It is clear to see that that the two siblings enjoy as a good a relationship off the pitch as on it. The sons of Roger Menama Lukaku, who played for several seasons in the Belgian championship and ran out for Zaire [now Congo DR] in the qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™, the pair were virtually inseparable until Romelu departed for Chelsea in 2011.
“We are very close,” explained Jordan. “There’s only a year between us and we don’t have any other brothers or sisters. We’ve experienced everything together. Our parents brought us up in a very loving environment, and when I look at other brothers and sisters around me none of them seem to compare to my relationship with Romelu, which is extremely strong.”
While their close relationship seems to be nothing but beneficial for the two of them, it does also lead to inevitable comeback
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