BELGIUM ON SONG FOR WORLD CUP CHALLENGE
EDEN HAZARD THE INSPIRATION AS ENGLAND’S GROUP RIVALS OUTGUN EGYPT IN FRIENDLY
Belgium warmed up for their World Cup challenge alongside England in Group G with a convincing friendly victory last night.
An inspired first-half display by Chelsea star Eden Hazard sparked Roberto Martinez’s men as they saw off Egypt 3-0.
Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Dries Mertens were also impressive, giving Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate food for thought.
Hazard set up the Red Devils’ opening goal in the 27th minute, surging into space and letting fly with a ferocious effort which was parried by keeper Essam ElHadary, allowing Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku to finish from close range.
Hazard doubled the lead 11 minutes later, sidefooting home a Yannick Carrasco cross.
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini made it 3-0 in added time at the end of the second half, finishing off after fine play from Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi.
Belgium have a final friendly against Costa Rica on Monday, with their World Cup opener coming on June 18 against Panama. They tackle England in their final Group G match on June 28.
Egypt, who meet Uruguay in their first World Cup game on June 15, lacked cohesion in the final third, with the absence of injured Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
Barnsley, likely to be big League One rivals for Sunderland next season, have appointed German Daniel Stendel as their new manager, and he is adamant that there is a “clear pathway to success” at the club.
The former Hannover 96 manager signed a two-year-deal with the Oakwell outfit yesterday, motivated by the Tykes’ ambition to succeed.
“It’s really important to want to be successful, but if you only want to be and don’t have a plan of how to be, it won’t work,” stressed Stendel, tasked with getting the club back to the Championship at the first attempt.
“But at Barnsley there is a plan, that is very clear and it becomes a pathway to success.
“I’ve got the view that the way in which I want to reach success, is mirrored by the people in charge. That is really important and made my decision an easy one.”
Stendel added: “I get the overall feeling that everything is fitting together, we’re all thinking in the same direction and that was a main reason for me signing.
“I’m fully motivated and excited to get going.”
Chief executive Gauthier Ganaye said: “This is a new era and one we hope will be an exciting one. We’ve identified that the counter-press has been used by the most successful teams in the world and Daniel is one of the best coaches at doing that.”