Will Eden Hazard reach his level in time for the World Cup? Even national coach Roberto Martinez is now asking that question aloud. “We have to ask ourselves whether Hazard can play another 90 minutes or seven games in a very short time,” said the national coach on RTBF.
Barely 98 minutes of play spread over three games in La Liga. That is Eden Hazard’s meager playing time this season at Real Madrid. There are therefore questions about the Red Devil with a view to the World Cup in Qatar next month.
Especially with the emergence of Leandro Trossard at Brighton & Hove Albion, Hazard no longer seems certain of his base place with the Red Devils. In the Nations League, the dribbler started in the base against the Netherlands and Wales, but will that also be the case at the World Cup?
Hazard is in my opinion one of the best players in the world in that position. Still at this point.
National coach Roberto Martinez hopes that “his situation will evolve over the next five weeks,” the Spaniard told RTBF. “Eden hasn’t played any games in a row for a while and that has consequences.”
“We have to ask ourselves whether Hazard can play another 90 minutes or seven games in a very short time.”
“We will take stock as the World Cup approaches and see what role we can give him. But I don’t see Hazard as a joker.”
Martinez reaffirmed that “Hazard is still a very important player for the national team”. “That’s 100 percent sure. His experience, his influence on opponents, his ability to take out a man and create danger…”
“He is in my opinion one of the best players in the world in that position. Still at the moment.”
Hazard in nightclub? “There’s a story behind it”
Two days before the Nations League game against the Netherlands, Hazard was spotted in a Brussels nightclub. Roberto Martinez couldn’t get around the controversy.
“He was allowed to spend time with family and friends,” said the national coach. “There is a very clear story behind it, but I am not going to talk about it publicly. It will be handled internally.”
“I wouldn’t want it to happen again, but there’s a story behind it,” Martinez concluded.
Belgium plays the World Cup in Group F, where they face Canada (23 November), Morocco (27) and Croatia (1 December) in the group stage.
