Eden Hazard Looking To Build On Belgium Performance
By Muneeb Khan
Chelsea FC’s young star Eden Hazard recently admitted that he did not live up to his own and others’ lofty expectations at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He recognized his performances should have been better with Belgium and that he is already targeting the 2016 European Championships to improve his game and build on what he achieved this summer.
More from Chelsea FC News
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 1 Blue Mauricio Pochettino should drop
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 3 Blues who must start
- Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Bournemouth: Palmer starts in 4-2-3-1
- Chelsea sporting directors finally reveal why they sign so many young players
- These 3 new signings may never get a game at Chelsea
While Belgium reached the quarter-finals and only lost to the eventual finalists, Argentina, 1-0, they were criticized for not playing more creatively with Hazard being the main target for the criticism. Hazard did have two bright moments in the summer assisting on two match-winning goals.
The first moment came against Algeria where he helped set-up Dries Mertens for the winning goal after Belgium came back from a 1-0 deficit. In the next match, Eden Hazard provided the creativity that led to the winning goal by Divock Origi against Russia in the second Group Match.
Otherwise, his ineffective performance in the quarter-finals lead him to being substituted in the 67th minute of match with Belgium needing a goal.
At the same time, he is satisfied that Belgium did reach as far as they did considering the nation did not participate at a major tournament since 2002. He is hoping to have two to three more World Cups to showcase his talent. This has been a remarkable turnaround for Hazard in terms of maturity.
It was only three years ago during a 2012 Euro qualifier when he deserted his national team by exiting the stadium in the middle of the match to go eat a sandwich. He was suspended for this action but has since become a key member of the national team. The world media has called this generation of the Belguim national team a possible golden period. We will see in a few years’ time if Hazard and his teammates live up to the expectations.
Follow us on Twitter at @PrideOLondon
Like us on Facebook at The Pride of London