Eden Haz the power
STAR AIMING TO FILL MESSI ’N RON’S SHOES
EDEN HAZARD is on a mission to steal the show from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
With the world’s top two players already dumped out of Russia 2018, the Belgium and Chelsea star has spotted a vacancy. And he is ready to take it. Hazard will lead Belgium against Japan in Rostov in the last 16 with two clear missions – to captain his team to glory and to catapult himself to superstardom on the world stage.
So when asked if he could step up to the plate with Messi and Ronaldo absent, Hazard did not hesitate.
He said: “They are not in the World Cup, so now it is time to shine.
“I want to go through the quarter-final, semi-final and maybe the final.
Stronger
“I am not the only one, of course. There are still a lot of good players.”
And Hazard is feeling good.
“I am a lot stronger than two years ago – or four years ago in Brazil,” he added.
“I have a lot more experience. Four years ago it was our first major competition, all of us together.
“France was our second one – and knockout matches have a lot to do with experience.
“When you have a younger team, it is more complicated, even if you have good players.
“Now I think most of us are between 25 and 30, so we have the same level of maturity and I think this will make the difference.”
Hazard has scored two goals so far and
from CHRIS HATHERALL in Rostov
heaped praise on team-mate Romelu Lukaku, who has four.
“We are very lucky to have Lukaku with us because he doesn’t need much to score,” said Hazard.
“Maybe a few years ago he needed more chances, but not now. This is why he is one of the top players.
“If he has three opportunities, he scores two goals most of the time. He is much better than a few years ago.
“His defensive work is very good as well, he didn’t do as much in defence before. But he has a lot of qualities in attack and when he plays, he scores.”
Hazard is also determined to avoid a ‘Wales moment’ – a repeat of their Euro 2016 exit when they possibly underestimated their opposition.
He said: “We are much better off than two years ago because then we had injuries just before the match as well.
“Japan are different from Wales. We will take this match as seriously as possible.”
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