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The best of Hazard awaits Wales
TOULOUSE: Eden Hazard could eclipse his “difficult” season with Chelsea by taking Euro 2016 by storm, according to Axel Witsel. Hazard struggled to make his mark
TOULOUSE: Eden Hazard could eclipse his “difficult” season with Chelsea by taking Euro 2016 by storm, according to Axel Witsel. Hazard struggled to make his mark for Belgium as they finished runner-up place in Group E behind Italy. But in a man-of-the-match performance against Hungary in Toulouse on Sunday, Hazard, captain for the night, turned on the style to score his maiden goal as his country secured a last eight fight against Wales in Lille.
Asked if it was his best performance for Belgium, Hazard simply said “yes” before breaking into a smile.
“It was a great match,” Hazard said. “Beyond my goal, it was a great collective performance. We created a lot of chances and finished enough of them.”
It will be the Red Devils’ first European Championship quarter-finals since they lost the 1980 final.
Although Hazard warned Wales will be a “complicated” side to play, Belgium are now waiting for a repeat performance against Gareth Bale’s side on Friday.
“If we want to go all the way, we need Eden to be playing like he did tonight,” said Zenit Saint Petersburg midfielder Witsel.
“He’s getting better match by match, and it’s good for us. He has all the qualities needed to win the (Fifa) Ballon d’Or (award) or to become the world’s best player.
“For me, he’s already among the world’s best. After his difficult season at Chelsea. He’s playing a lot more freer, scoring goals and giving assists.”
Chelsea teammate and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had little to do in a one-sided performance that saw Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld head a 10th minute lead before Belgium added three more goals in the second half.
Their driving force, he said, was Hazard. “Hazard was fantastic,” said Courtois. “When he wants to, he’s one of the best players in the world.”
Hazard was handed the captain’s armband by coach Marc Wilmots, and the 25-year-old responded by producing what he said was his best performance in a Belgian shirt.
Wilmots said he told Hazard to do the talking with his boots.
“Everyone knows he talks a lot, but a captain can’t just talk about scoring,” said the Belgium coach.
“I told him I wanted him to score a goal, that he didn’t shoot enough. And tonight, his feet did the talking. But I’m not surprised. I know what he’s capable of.”
Hazard, meanwhile, was quick to salute Belgium’s “collective” display. “Doing better than tonight would be difficult, I think. Everything was almost perfect. We scored goals, we created a lot of chances, we helped Thibaut (Courtois) keep a clean sheet,” he said.
