HAZARD IN FORM OF HIS LIFE, INSISTS COURTOIS
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S hat-trick and Spain’s slick passing set the standard high in Sochi but the confident Belgians are backing Eden Hazard to conjure more magic in this Black Sea resort.
Thibaut Courtois said he had never known his friend Hazard in such sparkling form ahead of their World Cup opener against outsiders Panama.
‘I’ve known him for many years,’ said Courtois. ‘And I don’t think I have ever seen him playing or training so amazing as in the last three weeks. He has reached another level of his best.’
It is an ominous form bulletin for England who face Belgium on Thursday week in their final Group G game.
Hazard (right) ended the season on a high at Chelsea, with a dazzling display and the only goal in the FA Cup final and carried on through friendlies against Costa Rica and Egypt.
‘His performance at Wembley has prepared him perfectly for the World Cup,’ said Belgium manager Roberto Martinez. ‘He looks fresh and mentally ready. The relationship he has with the players around him allows him to have an influence on a great scale.
‘In the last two friendlies he looked really sharp. We are happy with the preparation. We are excited and that mirrors the way Eden is feeling. He is in a great moment in his career. Looking at his age, he is a captain and never finds it difficult to show for the ball. In one-on-one situations he’s as good as anyone.’
Hazard is 27, in the prime of his career, as are Kevin De Bruyne and Courtois, both 26. The trio have won titles at club level and are aware chances are disappearing if this talented generation are to win Belgium’s first trophy.
They have a goal threat in the shape of Romelu Lukaku and midfield bite from Axel Witsel who keeps Mousa Dembele out of the team. And there is strength and experience at the back with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, even with Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen both ruled out of the Panama game with injuries.
Expectations are great. Asked what would represent success, Courtois replied: ‘In a World Cup, I guess, success is if you win. I wouldn’t call us big favourites. We are outsiders to win but we have a chance to go far and we believe in this chance. We have more experience than four years ago. We have quality and know each other well. We feel calm and determined. We are ready.’ It will take more than a virtuoso tournament from Hazard to propel them to a first major trophy and they know it. ‘It is not only Eden we need at his best,’ said Courtois. ‘ We need Romelu making and scoring goals and Kevin playing the way he played for Manchester City. To go far we need our best players at their best.’ This will include the goalkeeper, who is aware that David de Gea was embarrassed in Sochi when a shot from Ronaldo slithered from his grasp. ‘None of us is infallible,’ said Courtois. ‘As a goalkeeper nine out of 10 times when you make a mistake it is a goal. The ball was swerving. You can make a mistake. That can happen.’ At the last World Cup in Brazil, Belgium succumbed to Argentina. In France, at Euro 2016, they were stunned by Wales. ‘We have players at great moments in their careers,’ said Martinez. ‘ They are ready to make a mark at this World Cup. But if we feel we will win games by relying on one or two or three individuals, we are mistaken. If we are to fulfil the potential of these individuals we have to perform as a team.’