Belgium fret over Hazard, De Bruyne for Italy clash
Belgium are bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1980, when they lost to West Germany in the final. But the fitness of Hazard and De Bruyne is their main concern before facing the Azzurri in Munich
Belgium are anxiously waiting on the fitness of stars Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard for their Euro 2020 quarter-final showdown against Italy on Friday.
De Bruyne and Hazard on Thursday were both absent from Belgium’s final training session before their quarter-final match.
Captain Hazard and midfielder De Bruyne both hobbled off during Belgium’s 1-0 last-16 win over Portugal last weekend.
De Bruyne is struggling with an ankle ligament injury while Hazard has a hamstring problem, although the Real Madrid forward did participate in part of training Wednesday, according to Belgian media.
On Monday, coach Roberto Martinez said both players were “50/50” to feature against Italy in Munich on Friday.
“Kevin and Eden probably won’t get 100 per cent fit, but we will use every day to get them as fit as possible,” he said.
And with De Bruyne and Hazard both doubful for the game, Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini and team-mate Leonardo Bonucci - both defenders at Juventus - will know just who to focus on.
“It’s a quarter-final. It will be decided on small details,” Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans said. “I think one phase can turn the game in our favor, or against us. We have to be concentrated from the first minute and finish strongly. It’s going to be very, very tough, very, very physical.”
Belgium are bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1980, when they lost to West Germany in the final.
Thorgan Hazard fired Belgium into the last eight with the goal that knocked out holders Portugal, but the fitness of his brother Eden and De Bruyne is Belgium’s main concern before facing the Azzurri in Munich.
De Bruyne came off early in the second half against Portugal with an ankle knock, while Belgian captain Hazard injured a hamstring late in the game.
Neither trained on Wednesday with Belgium’s medical staff working around the clock to get them fit to face Italy.
Manchester City midfielder De Bruyne is central to Belgium’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals, where Spain or Switzerland would await next Tuesday.
Martinez is assessing his alternative options in atacking midfield.
Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco could replace Hazard, while Napoli forward Dries Mertens may step in for De Bruyne.
Martinez expects Italy to “atack from the very first second, they will be very structured”, underlining the need for De Bruyne’s presence to guide Belgium’s counter-atacks.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who faced De Bruyne’s City in last month’s Champions League final, has warned his Italy team-mates.
“De Bruyne is a player who makes the difference. We have to stop him because he always finds space. He can be really dangerous,” said Jorginho.
With four wins and three clean sheets so far at Euro 2020, the Belgians are living up to their billing as the world’s top-ranked team.
RECORD RUN: However, Italy are on a national record run of 31 games unbeaten ater digging deep to seal a 2-1 victory over Austria following extra time in the last 16.
Second-half replacements Federico Chelsea and Mateo Pessina scored to send the Italians through.
“Italy will be the toughest opponent we’ve met so far,” said Belgium forward Thorgan Hazard.
“They’ve had a good run of wins and it will be a nice challenge for us to end that sequence.”
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, the Serie A player of the season as Inter Milan ended an 11-year title drought, has scored three goals at the tournament.
Italy midfielder Pessina says the Inter star is a handful who “can take on three defenders by himself”.
Meanwhile forward Ciro Immobile has answered critics’ claims he only scores in the blue of Lazio, not the national team, with goals against Switzerland and Turkey in the group stage.
Ater 25 goals in 41 games last season for Lazio, Immobile has the confidence of Italy coach Roberto Mancini, but had a frustrating night against Austria, hiting the post with half an hour gone.
The striker says the Azzurri have a point to make to Italian fans at Euro 2020.
Failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was “a lesson for us that will hopefully help us to go far in this European Championship and write over the ugly memories,” said Immobile.