Roberto Martinez is enjoying Belgiumโs โboringโ tag and insists Romelu Lukaku is not hell-bent on winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup.
Belgiumโs serene progress over the past few weeks has been built around a harmonious atmosphere in the dressing room โ something that hasnโt always been the case at major tournaments in the past โ and Martinez is impressed at his playersโ focus ahead of their second Group G game against Tunisia in Moscow.
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Asked how he created such a togetherness in the camp, Martinez said: โWe want to be boring, we are a football team, we are not here to bring stories, fill pages for the wrong reasons.
โWe care about each other, we arenโt here to find blame, a way out, we are here to work hard and fulfil the potential we have.
โItโs simplicity and basics, we have a real focus on being accountable. Injured or not, you have a role and itโs very easy to assess your contribution.
โThe focus from day one has been really good. I am sure itโs been boring for you [the media] but I am pleased with the way we have been growing in the last few weeks.โ
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Lukaku scored twice in the 3-0 defeat of Panama on Monday but Martinez says the Manchester United forward has no designs on winning the individual prize for the leading scorer in Russia.
He added: โHe will tell you, heโs not here to be the top scorer at the World Cup, heโs here to help the team to win and do his role. His role is of someone who can score goals.
โI know Rom well, I spent the biggest amount in Evertonโs history on a player because of the quality of his finishing, not because he was a player that could contribute things other than scoring goals.
โHis role in the national team has become that. Maybe before there was confusion, when you ask players to do things they canโt do it becomes confusing.
โI think Rom now knows his role. I wouldnโt expect any player to work towards an individual reward, the players know what they have to do to make a winning team.โ
Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen are lacking match fitness and wonโt be considered for the Tunisia clash, although the latter did take part in team training at Spartak Stadium on Friday.
Belgium coped comfortably without the experienced duo in their opening outing, but Martinez shrugged off talk of it being the best chance for their โGolden Generationโ to claim the Red Devilsโ first World Cup title.
โWorld Cups donโt respect generations, individual names, it only respects winning teams,โ he said.
โWe qualified well, weโre progressing well and now itโs time, we are ready for tomorrow.
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โWe respect Tunisia, both teams will want to go out and win. Thatโs the only focus thatโs worrying this squad.
โFrom the outside you can analyse it however you want. We want to improve on what we did against Panama. Then we want to grow in the next two games.โ