Romelu Lukaku is facing potential disciplinary action at Napoli after failing to return to training.

The striker pulled out of the Belgium squad for friendlies against the United States and Mexico in North America but headed back to his home country for treatment.

Lukaku has made only seven appearances this season, all of them as a substitute, after missing the first part of the campaign with a serious hamstring injury.

A Napoli statement on Tuesday afternoon read: “SSC Napoli can confirm that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today’s call to return to training.

“The club reserves the right to consider taking the appropriate disciplinary action, as well as to determine whether the player will continue to train with the team for an indefinite period.”

Lukaku explained his decision to travel to Belgium in an Instagram post on Monday.

The 32-year-old former Chelsea and Manchester United forward, who joined Napoli in 2024, wrote: “The truth is the last few weeks I wasn’t feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium and it showed that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle next to my scar tissue.

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“Since it is the second problem I had since coming back early November, I chose to do the rehab in Belgium.”

Lukaku insisted his future remains in Italy, adding: “I could never turn my back on Napoli, never. There’s nothing more I would love to do than play and win [for] my team.

“But right now I have to make sure I’m 100% physically cause I haven’t been recently and it took a toll mentally.”

Napoli sit third in the Serie A table, seven points behind leaders Inter Milan.

There was a big shakeup in this week’s top ten with Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and UCLA all shuffling places. The Crimson Tide received a first-place vote in advance of their series against the team that received the most first-place votes, Texas. This will be an interesting week, with multiple ranked matchups in the SEC to go along with two in the ACC.

Player to watch

Alabama P Jocelyn Briski

Briski is a stunning 13-0 on the season with 113 strikeouts. Against Arkansas in mid March, she pitched two complete games with a combined 24 strikeouts. She’ll be a key factor in the Crimson Tide’s upcoming matchup against Texas.

Top moment

DAKOTA KENNEDY WALKS IT OFF FOR THE SERIES WIN 🤩#NCAASoftball x 🎥 SECN+ / @RazorbackSB

pic.twitter.com/2zshnObK0f

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) March 29, 2026

In a matchup between two top-ten teams, Arkansas outfielder Dakota Kennedy left her mark. The senior’s three-run walk-off home run against Florida helped the Razorbacks to a 2-1 series upset.

Series to watch

No. 1 Texas at No. 5 Alabama
Thursday at 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Friday at 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
Saturday at 6 p.m., ESPN

Both of these top-ten programs have just two losses on the season, and Texas is coming off a tough one against rival Texas A&M. Can Alabama put the Longhorns on their first losing streak of the season? Or will Texas regain its footing?

How to watch

Everything college softball on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big 12 Now on ESPN+, ESPN3, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX is accessible here, in addition to being available on the ESPN App.

What’s the full schedule?

You can check out the complete scoreboard here to stay up to date this spring.

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Week 8 Top 25

Here is the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ranking, plus each team’s record and next game.
All times Eastern.

1. Texas

Previous rank: 1
Record: 31-2

Next game: Thursday at Alabama, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

2. Texas Tech

Previous rank: 2
Record: 34-2

Next game: Tuesday at Abilene Christian, 6 p.m., ESPN+

3. Oklahoma

Previous rank: 3
Record: 34-3

Next game: Tuesday vs. Wichita State, 6 p.m., SEC Network

4. Nebraska

Previous rank: 6
Record: 26-6

Next game: Tuesday at Creighton, 6 p.m., ESPN+

5. Alabama

Previous rank: 7
Record: 33-2

Next game: Thursday vs. Texas, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

6. Arkansas

Previous rank: 9
Record: 30-5

Next game: Saturday vs. Auburn, 5 p.m., SEC Network+

7. Florida

Previous rank: 5
Record: 33-4

Next game: Wednesday at Stetson, 6 p.m., ESPN+

8. Tennessee

Previous rank: 4
Record: 30-5

Next game: Thursday vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m., SEC Network+

9. UCLA

Previous rank: 8
Record: 29-5

Next game: Thursday vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m., Big Ten Plus

10. Florida State

Previous rank: 10
Record: 32-4

Next game: Thursday vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m., ACC Extra

11. Georgia

Previous rank: 11
Record: 27-8

Next game: Thursday at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

12. Virginia Tech

Previous rank: 12
Record: 31-4

Next game: Wednesday vs. Clemson, 6 p.m., ACC Extra

13. Arizona

Previous rank: 13
Record: 27-8

Next game: Thursday at Iowa State, 5 p.m., ESPN+

14. Washington

Previous rank: 16
Record: 30-6

Next game: Thursday at Saint Mary’s, 5 p.m.

15. Texas A&M

Previous rank: 15
Record: 24-11

Next game: Thursday vs. Georgia, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

16. Mississippi State

Previous rank: 14
Record: 32-7

Next game: Friday at Florida, 6 p.m., SEC Network+

17. Virginia

Previous rank: 18
Record: 31-3

Next game: Thursday at Duke, 6 p.m., ACC Extra

18. Oregon

Previous rank: 17
Record: 26-9

Next game: Friday vs. Iowa, 9 p.m.

19. Duke

Previous rank: 19
Record: 24-11

Next game: Tuesday vs. Campbell, 5 p.m., ACC Extra

20. LSU

Previous rank: 20
Record: 23-12

Next game: Thursday at Missouri, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

21. Oklahoma State

Previous rank: 21
Record: 25-10

Next game: April 8 at Wichita State, 7 p.m., ESPN+

22. Grand Canyon

Previous rank: 23
Record: 36-2

Next game: Thursday vs. Nevada, 10 p.m.

23. Arizona State

Previous rank: 25
Record: 28-9

Next game: Thursday at Kansas, 6 p.m., ESPN+

24. Stanford

Previous rank: 22
Record: 20-10

Next game: Wednesday vs. Washington, 8 p.m., ACC Extra

25. UCF

Previous rank: NR
Record: 28-10

Next game: Thursday vs. Utah, 6 p.m., ESPN+

The pressure is on Italy since an entire generation — basically anyone under 15 has no memory of the last time the Azzurri played in the World Cup — an elimination loss to Uruguay in 2014 in Brazil mostly remembered for Luis Suárez‘s bite of Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder.

Italy plays Bosnia and Herzegovina away on Tuesday at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica after beating Northern Ireland in the semifinals of their World Cup playoff. The winner gets a spot Group B at this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with Italy having missed the last two World Cups.

For winger Matteo Politano, who has won two Serie A titles at Napoli but at 32 has still never played in a World Cup, he understands time is running out for his generation to play on the world’s biggest stage.

“We all know what we’re playing for,” Politano said. “For me, and for a few of the other senior players, it’s probably our last chance.”

If Italy is going to qualify for a first World Cup in 12 years, the Azzurri defenders are going to have to contain a striker they respect and know well.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 40-year-old forward Edin Dzeko has been a club teammate of all three of Italy’s starting defenders. He with Gianluca Mancini and Riccardo Calafiori while he was at AS Roma from 2015-21. Having then moved to Inter Milan, Dzeko teamed with Alessandro Bastoni on the squad that reached the 2023 Champions League final.

Italy and Inter winger Federico Dimarco contacted Dzeko to congratulate him after Bosnia beat Wales in a penalty shootout last week to set up Tuesday’s playoff final against the four-time World Cup champion.

Dzeko’s headed equalizer in the second half against Wales was his 73rd international goal. At 6-foot-4 (1.93 meters), Dzeko excels in the air — where Italy’s defenders often struggle.

“Edin is a great player and a great person,” Dimarco said. “I saw him on vacation over the summer and I’ve maintained a nice relationship with him.”

Dimarco will have to momentarily set aside the relationship, though, with Italy desperate to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.

Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

Tuesdays’ other playoff finals are: Sweden vs. Poland; Turkey vs. Kosovo; and Denmark vs. the Czech Republic to determine the other three UEFA spots at the World Cup.

Bosnia has chosen to host the playoff in the 14,000-seat Bilino Polje Stadium, which is surrounded by apartment towers overlooking the field.

The stadium’s capacity will be reduced by 20% following punishment from FIFA for discriminatory and racist abuse by fans during Bosnia’s game against Romania in November.

Italy is concerned over the status of the stadium’s pitch after a recent snowfall in Bosnia.

“We’re expecting a difficult atmosphere,” Dimarco said. “But if we’re able to remain in the right frame of mind for 95 minutes, I think we can get the result.”

After the teams’ respective semifinal wins, Bosnia seized upon video footage of Italy’s players celebrating after seeing Bosnia beat Wales — as if they considered Bosnia an easier opponent than Wales.

“It was an instinctive reaction,” Dimarco said. “I certainly did not disrespect either Bosnia or Bosnians.”

The referee for the match in Bosnia will be Clement Turpin of France, who was also in charge when Italy was beaten 1-0 at home by North Macedonia in the playoff semifinals four years ago.

Dimarco has been a consistent force on the left wing for Serie A leader Inter this season with six goals and 15 assists.

The only World Cup he’s played in was the Under-20 version in 2017 when Italy finished third with Dimarco scoring in the quarterfinals.

“I’ve always said that goals and assists don’t interest me unless they help the team achieve results,” Dimarco said.

The Italian attack got a boost in the second half against Northern Ireland when Pio Esposito replaced Mateo Retegui. Now the 20-year-old Esposito could start in Retegui’s place alongside Moise Kean in Bosnia

Dimarco also plays with Esposito at Inter.

“He’s a special kid,” Dimarco said. “He’s mature for his age and always gives 100% – both in matches and in training. … He just needs to be left alone and we shouldn’t put too much pressure on him.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.