Hazard hones Cup form in Egypt win
Brussels, June 7: Eden Hazard scored once and assisted another goal in a 3- 0 pre- World Cup friendly win over Egypt on Wednesday that gave worried Belgium fans hope of a promising World Cup campaign.
Drawn in Group G containing England, Tunisia and tournament debutants Panama, Belgium are expected to cruise into the second round of the June 14- July 15 showpiece.
However embattled coach Roberto Martinez has yet to win over fans, and is sweating over the fitness of key defenders Thomas Vermaelen ( thigh) and Vincent Kompany ( groin), both injured.
Chelsea star Hazard, who survived a kick to his knee in the opening minute, forcing him off at halftime, said it was a performance Belgium would have to repeat in Russia if they want to progress.
“I came off at half- time because I took a knock to my knee, but there’s nothing to worry about, it will be better tomorrow,” he said.
“It was nice to add some rhythm to the match, to create some movement and score as well.
“If we want to go far in the World Cup, we’ll have to be as solid as we were tonight and keep our energy.”
Facing an Egypt side shorn of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in a 3- 1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, Belgium were given a chance to patch over some recent difficulties during their preparation period.
Belgium struggled to a scoreless draw last week against a Portugal side missing striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Martinez, who has sidelined Roma star Radja Nainggolan, has faced plenty of criticism in the Belgian media.
Missing Salah, Europe’s Golden Boot winner last season, Egypt’s goalscoring chances were automatically decimated.
But even a characteristically strong defensive display by the Pharaohs wasn’t enough to contain Hazard, who played only the opening half, and the visitors at times appeared well below par.
A superb ball from the Chelsea midfield star found Romelu Lukaku in space on 27 minutes and the Manchester United striker promptly scored his 34th goal for the national side. Seven minutes before the interval Yannick Carrasco turned provider for Hazard to hit his 22nd goal for Belgium in 80 appearances.
In the final seconds another Premier League player, Manchester United forward Marouane Fellaini, hit Belgium’s third to cap what was a far more encouraging performance from Belgium.
World Cup- bound Panama saw their hopes of a morale- boosting pretournament win crumble after just four minutes in a 0- 1 defeat to Norway in Oslo.
Panama will make their World Cup debut in Russia, where the central Americans will face England, Belgium and Tunisia in Group G.
But Hernan Dario Gomez’s men will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes after this latest setback ahead of the June 14July 15 showpiece.
Norway, who are not qualified for the World Cup, took a fourth- minute lead through Joshua King.
SOUTH KOREA DRAW WITH BOLIVIA
In Innsbruck, Austria, South Korea were held to a scoreless draw by Bolivia, putting on a lackadaisical performance just 11 days before their opening match in Russia. The 57thranked South Korea had a stagnant, sluggish offence against the 59th- ranked Bolivia at Tivoli- Neu Stadium on Thursday.
With Bolivia missing some of their top players to club commitments and willing to sit back and defend, South Korea appeared to play down to the level of their competition.