The time is right for Belgium – Hazard
Belgium forward Eden Hazard accepts the spotlight is on him at the World Cup, increasingly so now that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have gone home. “They are not in the World Cup, so now it’s time to shine,” a smiling Hazard said before Belgium’s last-16 match against Japan today. Ronaldo and Messi have each won five World Player of the Year awards. But neither has won the World Cup, and on Saturday, both Portugal and Argentina were eliminated. Hazard still has a chance to win it.
In the past, Hazard has talked himself up about being good enough to become a Player of the Year Award winner. But the 27-year-old Chelsea star, who has 24 international goals, is playing some of his best football and clearly backs himself to deliver. He also fervently believes in this slick Belgium side’s ability to live up to its reputation as one of the pre-tournament favourites.
“It is time to shine definitely, we have top players,” Hazard said yesterday at a pre-match news conference. “I think now it is in our hands.”
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez agrees the opportunity may be too good to squander.
“The champions of Europe (Portugal) are out, the World champions (Germany) are out,” Martinez said. “I think the team is in a very good way, mentally and physically. You just get the feeling the players are desperate to be on the pitch. When you create that competitive nature, all you see is players who are ready (and) desperate to contribute.”
Belgium’s best World Cup performance was reaching the semi-finals in 1986, when they succumbed to two second-half goals from Argentina great Diego Maradona in a 2-0 loss.
At this World Cup, Belgium swept through the group stage with three wins, just like four years ago in Brazil. But Hazard insists this team is considerably stronger than in 2014, when Belgium went out in the quarterfinals, and better than the side which lost 3-1 to Wales in the quarter-finals of the European Championship two years ago.
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