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The Latest: Lukaku says he draws his motivation like Jordan

Posted June 25, 2021 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku reacts after scoring his side's second goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match between Finland and Belgium at Saint Petersburg stadium, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Monday, June 21, 2021. (Lars Baron/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

The Latest on soccer's European Championship:

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Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku says he draws his motivation the same way basketball great Michael Jordan did.

Lukaku says he also uses criticism against him to become a better player and prove others wrong.

The 28-year-old striker says he watched the documentary 'œThe Last Dance'ť about Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and thought 'œI'm not alone.'ť

Lukaku says 'œI'm not saying I'm Michael Jordan'ť but 'œpeople need something to push themselves. I need that.'ť

Belgium will play defending champion Portugal in the round of 16 of the European Championship on Sunday in Seville.

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Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand says he hopes his country's long-standing connection to Dutch club Ajax will give his team a boost against Wales in the round of 16 match at the European Championship.

Saturday's match will be at Ajax's home stadium in Amsterdam.

Ajax has a history of signing Danish players. They include Christian Eriksen, Jesper Olsen, Jan Molby and Michael and Brian Laudrup.

Hjulmand says Ajax is the one team outside Denmark that has meant something to Danish soccer and he hopes the Dutch fans will support his team.

He says 'œhopefully they're going to come in in red and white and not orange.'ť

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Belgium coach Roberto Martinez says Kevin De Bruyne is in 'œperfect physical condition'ť ahead of the game against Portugal in the round of 16 of the European Championship.

Martinez says Axel Witsel and Eden Hazard also have fully recovered going into Sunday's match in Seville.

He says the group phase was 'œreally good'ť for Belgium because 'œwe won the nine points and we got every player ready to play.'ť

De Bruyne gradually made his way into Belgium's team at Euro 2020 after needing surgery for a facial injury sustained in a collision in the Champions League final.

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UEFA has appointed an investigator to look at fresh claims of 'œpotential discriminatory incidents'ť at a Hungary game at the European Championship.

Details of the incidents at the game between Germany and Hungary in Munich on Wednesday were not specified.

A separate investigation was already opened into incidents at Hungary's two games in Budapest against Portugal and France.

Hungary fans have shown anti-gay banners and have been accused of chanting homophobic slogans in their stadium. Fans also marched to the Puskas Arena on Saturday protesting against players taking a knee to support equality.

Germany fans flew rainbow flags on Wednesday and one person ran onto the field waving a flag next to the Hungary players during their national anthem.

It is unclear if the latest UEFA investigation includes incidents involving Germany fans.

Hungary has been eliminated from Euro 2020 but Budapest will host the match between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

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UEFA has given its referees and match officials high marks for their overall performance at the European Championship.

Trends cited by UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti include nearly 2ˆ½ minutes more active playing time per game, fewer fouls awarded and fewer yellow cards shown.

UEFA believes the first European Championship using video review means all tight offside decisions were correctly made and more penalties were correctly given.

Rosetti says offside 'œis not any more an issue for us.'ť

He praises the players' good behavior and attitude for the average of only 22.4 fouls in the 36-game group stage.

That raised the average active playing time to 58 minutes, 51 seconds compared to 56:30 at Euro 2016.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Denmark's manager Kasper Hjulmand arrives for the training of his team at Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, June 25, 2021, a day before the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between Wales and Denmark. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) The Associated Press

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates with Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne after scoring his side's second goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group B match between Finland and Belgium at Saint Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Monday, June 21, 2021. (Anatoly Maltsev/Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press

A fan with a LGBT pride flag runs on the pitch during the national anthems before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Germany and Hungary at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany,Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool) The Associated Press

Referee Antonio Mateu Lohoz, left, talks with Portugal's manager Fernando Santos during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Portugal and France at the Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic,Pool) The Associated Press

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