Football
Nick Miller, ESPN.com writer 6y

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku's priority is winning the World Cup, not the Golden Boot - Roberto Martinez

Romelu Lukaku values helping his Belgium team succeed at the World Cup over winning the Golden Boot, according to his manager Roberto Martinez.

Lukaku grabbed a brace in Belgium's opening game against Panama, putting him on the right track to finish as top goal scorer in Russia.

Potential rivals for that title such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane have both talked about wanting to collect the award, but Martinez believes Lukaku's aims are more collective.

"He's not here to be the top scorer at the World Cup, and that pleases me," said Martinez on Friday. "He's here to help the team to win, and to perform his role. His role is to score goals.

"Rom knows what his role is, as I hope every other player on the pitch does. I wouldn't expect any player to work towards an individual award. I think every player knows what they need to do to becoming a winning team.

"I know Rom well -- the reason we paid a record fee at Everton was you saw his outstanding finishing quality. Not because he was the finished article, not because he was a player who could give you something apart from scoring goals.

"I think his role in the national team has become that: maybe before it was a bit confused. When you ask a player to do things he's not good at, he becomes diluted."

Martinez also confessed he was pleased if the Belgium team seem "boring" from the outside. Stories have emerged from a few other team camps suggesting rifts and arguments, the most dramatic of course being Spain's decision to change managers on the eve of the tournament, but the mood in the Belgium camp appears to be harmonious.

"We do want to be boring," Martinez said. "We're a football team. We don't want to fill pages for the wrong reasons.

"This is the national team: it's unique, and a special moment in our careers. We're here to work hard and fulfil the potential we have. Every player in the 23 has a role. The focus has been good from day one -- I'm sure it's boring for many of you, but I'm pleased."

Belgium face Tunisia on Saturday, knowing that a victory will almost certainly seal their progression to the second round. One theme that emerged from their first game was the physical treatment given to Eden Hazard by some of the Panama players, which Martinez highlighted. He was asked if that would be a concern for him this time, and how they would avoid their play being affected by that.

"We need to manage the ball well: if we lose it in dangerous positions Tunisia will hurt us. We just need to be normal: we need to play our game, remove the pressure from playing in a World Cup and simplify it. They need to win the game, so it will make it very open."

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