Euro 2020: Lukaku urges Eriksen to 'stay strong' as Belgium beat Russia 3-0
Updated On: 13 June, 2021 07:53 AM IST | Saint Petersburg | AFP
Eriksen is recovering in hospital in Copenhagen after collapsing on the pitch during extraordinary scenes which overshadowed Denmark`s 1-0 home defeat by Finland in Saturday`s earlier Group B game.
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Belgium`s forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his team`s third goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Belgium and Russia at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg. Pic/AFP
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku sent a message of support to his stricken Inter Milan team-mate Christian Eriksen after scoring, as his double helped the Red Devils open their Euro 2020 campaign with a 3-0 win over Russia on Saturday. Lukaku gave Belgium an early lead in Saint Petersburg, then shouted "Chris, Chris, stay strong -- I love you" into a pitchside camera during the celebration for his opening goal. Eriksen is recovering in hospital in Copenhagen after collapsing on the pitch during extraordinary scenes which overshadowed Denmark`s 1-0 home defeat by Finland in Saturday`s earlier Group B game.
"I am really happy with the win, but it was hard for me to play because my thoughts were with Christian Erkisen," said Lukaku, who revealed he cried tears of concern before kick-off for his Inter team-mate. Substitute Thomas Meunier doubled Belgium`s lead on 34 minutes before Lukaku put the result beyond doubt with a late second goal. Belgium, the world`s top-ranked team, are under pressure to deliver at the European Championship as some pundits claim this is Roberto Martinez`s last chance to win a title with an ageing squad. Yet even with Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel sidelined by injury, Belgium were too strong for Russia. The hosts got off to a bad start when Andrei Semenov failed to deal with a cross by Dries Mertens in the build-up to the opening goal.
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