Belgium and Chelsea fans got a bit of a scare tonight when star forward Eden Hazard limped off the pitch in the 70′ minute of his side’s 4-1 rout of Costa Rica. The lopsided friendly was the final World Cup warm up for Belgium, a team that is considered among the second tier of favorites in regards to winning the global tournament.
Hazard, who got hurt in an awkward collision tonight, figured in helping to set up all of Belgium’s goals; which were scored by Dries Mertens, Michy Batshuayi and two from Romelu Lukaku. The 27-year-old forward was in fine form this evening, as Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez pointed out after the game.
More importantly, Hazard is okay, and it’s only a knock, according to Martinez.
“Eden is okay, he had a little trouble, but it’s nothing to worry about,” the former Everton manager said in post game media availability.
“I really enjoyed his performance. He was sharp and strong, he was majestic. At the end he just came off because he had a little bit of a dead leg, a little bit of a knock on his leg.”
Eden Hazard made international headlines as well yesterday, when he expressed his desire to see the Chelsea manager situation settled. It is widely assumed that current boss Antonio Conte is out the Stamford Bridge exit door, but yet the Italian currently remains in charge.
Belgium commence their quest for World Cup glory on Monday against Panama before later facing Tunisia and then another fellow nation in the second tier of favorites, England in Group G competition.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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