Hazard: We are wary of Japan after Wales gave us a lesson
EDEN HAZARD has warned Belgium not to underestimate Japan in today’s World Cup last-16 clash in Rostov, for fear of repeating his team’s exit against Wales in Euro 2016.
Belgium’s golden generation were famously stopped in their tracks in France two years ago when they lost 3-1 against Wales in the quarter-finals.
Hazard insists his team will not make the same mistake twice as they bid to reach the last eight in Russia and set up a potential glamour tie against Brazil.
The Chelsea star said: “If Japan have reached the round of 16, it’s because they are pretty good. Yes, they were a bit lucky [to reach the last 16 only because they had fewer bookings than Senegal] but they are a good side.
“If we think this is going to be easy we may lose, so we need to be very focused from the beginning. We need to score early and win as soon as possible.”
If those words make 27-year-old Hazard sound rather wise, then it is probably because he learned the hard way at France 2016, when Belgium were 1-0 up against Wales before goals f ro m A s h l ey Wi ll i a ms , Ha l Ro b s o nKanu (right) and Sam Vokes sent Chris Coleman’s side into the semifinals of the tournament.
“Two years ago, we had this match against Wales, so we know what to do and what not to do,” he said. “We are much better off than two years ago.
“Two years ago, we had injuries just before the match as well. Now is another tournament, against another team. Japan is totally different from Wales. We will take this match as seriously as possible.”
With that in mind, Hazard insists he has not even thought about Brazil being potential quarter-final opponents.
He said: “We play Japan, so we are not sure to be qualified and we are not sure if Brazil will go through.
“So, for certain, we are not thinking about a game against Brazil. We are thinking about our game against Japan. We are taking one match at a time.” Hazard was rested for the match against England, meaning he has had nine days of rest to prepare for this evening’s game.
“For us who play in the Premier League, we are happy to have a few more days off,” he said. “We don’t have many resting days during the year.
“But, personally, I like to play and when I stop I am not as good in the following match. I hope this is not going to happen this time.
“We have several major players who were able to rest and let’s hope we can enter the match as soon as possible. We do have good training sessions and I am sure we will be ready.”
After failing to spark in France, Belgium’s captain accepts there is pressure to go further this time.
“It is time to shine,” he said. “We have top players. We play as a group, all together, it is not just one or two players, we have 23 players. Especially against England we saw that.
“So, it is in our hands. We just need to play together, give everything and then we will see what happens. We want to go a long way here, to the Final if we can.”
⬤