Sports

Questions raised over Hazard’s World Cup form

Former Belgium forward Degryse calls for exclusion of compatriot.

Afp June 06, 2014

One theory being mooted on Hazard’s form is that he has been distracted by talk of a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. PHOTO: AFP

BRUSSELS: Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard’s form ahead of the World Cup has sparked a feverish debate in his home country where one former international has called for the Chelsea star to be dropped.

Belgium have been tipped as a team who could upset the favourites at the World Cup.

But two-time World Cup veteran Marc Degryse says the 23-year-old Hazard looked worryingly distracted during two warm up games for their Group H campaign against Russia, South Korea and Algeria.

Belgian coach Marc Wilmots should have a sharp word with Hazard, despite his goal in Belgium’s 2-0 win over Sweden last Sunday, said Degryse, who played with Wilmots in the national side.

“He has to work harder defensively,” said the 48-year-old Degryse, who scored 23 times in 63 appearances for Belgium.

“If that doesn’t change, Wilmots will have to resolve it by dropping him.”

Degryse, who scored twice in seven appearances at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, said Hazard needs a wakeup call from time to time to be shaken out of complacency.

“Hazard is the type of player who sometimes needs some sense knocked into him.”

Wilmots has dismissed the concerns of Degryse and others, saying that he expected Hazard to be in top form for Saturday’s friendly with Tunisia. He did add though that he would drop the player if he does not perform.

Spain expecting to feel the heat

Spain are expecting to feel the heat in their World Cup title defence, and not just from their rivals. Barcelona striker Pedro Rodriguez said that the hot, humid weather in the host country will be a challenge for all of the teams.

“It’s always hot and it’s very difficult,” said Pedro. “We need to be able to adapt as quickly as possible and be in good physical shape to deal with the conditions, so they don’t affect us.”

La Roja have two Group B matches in cities where they think heat could be a factor, their opener against the Netherlands in Salvador and their second match against Chile in Rio de Janeiro.

Meanwhile, French winger Franck Ribery joined the World Cup casualty toll with a back injury at France’s Clairefontaine training camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2014.

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