WITH a fresh spring in his step and a smile re-born, Eden Hazard appears to be revelling in the role of captain on the international stage.
The brilliant Belgian, after a below-par season with Chelsea, has grown into the position as team leader and was instrumental in yesterday’s 4-0 demolition of Hungary.
Maybe new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte should give the club’s armband to Hazard who is showing the form which made him a double player of the year winner in 2015.
He was a shadow of his former self in blue last season and looked at times like a troubled man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Hazard’s fall from grace and wonder – six goals in 50 appearances – was mirrored by the Chelsea side itself as the Blues slipped from champions to mid table also-rans.
But, in the colours of Belgium at the Euros and with captain’s band on his arm, Hazard is in his element; creating one goal and scoring a stunner against Hungary.
The 4-0 victory – courtesy of goals from Toby Alderweireld, Michu Batshuayi, Hazard and Yannick Carrasco – sets up a Belgium v Wales clash in the last eight.
The Belgians’ golden boys are looking ominous, and coach Marc Wilmots is delighted to see his side click into gear. Especially his skipper.
As quoted on the BBC Sport website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36569531 – he said:”I told Eden that I wanted him to score a goal by cutting inside.
“He wasn’t close enough to the goal and he needs to have fun when he’s out on the pitch. A captain can’t always do his talking with his mouth. Sometimes you have to do your talking with your feet and that’s what he did today.”
BBC analyst Trevor Sinclair added: “It was an absolutely outstanding, world-class performance. He’s the man of the match – that was the performance of the tournament. He has led by example.”
Wilmots added: “We should have been at least 3-0 up at half time. We kept the game at 1-0 too long. We scored the second and third goals very quickly, but we needed a lot of chances. In big games you don’t get as many chances, you get punished.
“I told my players to be patient. Often in training, we do two-touch passing. In Brazil you asked me why and today you see why. You can move the ball very quickly.
“I have to say Kevin De Bruyne, every time he lost the ball he made the effort to come back and that’s what makes the side strong. When we don’t have the ball we don’t allow many chances.” Be wary of the wounded beast; the Belgians are back.
The brilliant Belgian, after a below-par season with Chelsea, has grown into the position as team leader and was instrumental in yesterday’s 4-0 demolition of Hungary.
Maybe new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte should give the club’s armband to Hazard who is showing the form which made him a double player of the year winner in 2015.
He was a shadow of his former self in blue last season and looked at times like a troubled man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Hazard’s fall from grace and wonder – six goals in 50 appearances – was mirrored by the Chelsea side itself as the Blues slipped from champions to mid table also-rans.
But, in the colours of Belgium at the Euros and with captain’s band on his arm, Hazard is in his element; creating one goal and scoring a stunner against Hungary.
The 4-0 victory – courtesy of goals from Toby Alderweireld, Michu Batshuayi, Hazard and Yannick Carrasco – sets up a Belgium v Wales clash in the last eight.
The Belgians’ golden boys are looking ominous, and coach Marc Wilmots is delighted to see his side click into gear. Especially his skipper.
As quoted on the BBC Sport website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36569531 – he said:”I told Eden that I wanted him to score a goal by cutting inside.
“He wasn’t close enough to the goal and he needs to have fun when he’s out on the pitch. A captain can’t always do his talking with his mouth. Sometimes you have to do your talking with your feet and that’s what he did today.”
BBC analyst Trevor Sinclair added: “It was an absolutely outstanding, world-class performance. He’s the man of the match – that was the performance of the tournament. He has led by example.”
Wilmots added: “We should have been at least 3-0 up at half time. We kept the game at 1-0 too long. We scored the second and third goals very quickly, but we needed a lot of chances. In big games you don’t get as many chances, you get punished.
“I told my players to be patient. Often in training, we do two-touch passing. In Brazil you asked me why and today you see why. You can move the ball very quickly.
“I have to say Kevin De Bruyne, every time he lost the ball he made the effort to come back and that’s what makes the side strong. When we don’t have the ball we don’t allow many chances.” Be wary of the wounded beast; the Belgians are back.
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