Hazard praises Belgian reaction
SKIPPER: WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE TWO YEARS AGO
Rostov-on-Don
Eden Hazard admitted that memories of Belgium’s shock Euro 2016 defeat to Wales haunted him during their stunning 3-2 last-gasp win over Japan to reach the World Cup quarterfinals.
“We are just so happy to go through,” said Belgian captain Hazard, who was the Man-of-theMatch in Rostov, as his side set up a quarterfinal against Brazil in Kazan on Friday.
Belgium were facing a World Cup exit when goals by Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui in four devastating minutes put Japan 2-0 up early in the second half on Monday.
Hazard said memories of their shock 3-1 defeat to the unfancied Welsh in the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 came flooding back.
“To be fair, we were thinking it was like two years ago against Wales,” said Hazard.
“But we have players who can change the game and they came off the bench to make the difference.”
From 2-0 down, Belgium clawed back a goal through leftback Jan Vertonghen before replacements Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli, who hit the 94th-minute winner, also scored to complete the fightback.
“During the first half we were quite good, but things went wrong at the start of the second half, both goals were avoidable, but the reaction we showed was great,” said Hazard.
The victory emphatically answered any questions about the Belgians’ fighting spirit.
Chadli’s superbly worked goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time was the final act of an epic last-16 battle.
Belgium become the first team in 48 years to successfully overturn a 2-0 deficit in a World Cup knockout game.
Fellaini, who scored their second less than nine minutes after coming on, said Belgium earned the reward for their never-say-die spirit.
“It was an important game for us because we showed the mentality, we came back from 2-0 and scored three goals in 90 minutes,” said Fellaini, who has just signed a contract extension with Manchester United.
“It will be tough against Brazil, we know their quality, so it’s going to be a good test.
“We are more mature than before and we all want to show what we can do against Brazil.” –