Eden Hazard’s Good Performance Vs France Ends In Injury

74 minutes deep into Belgium’s UEFA Nations League semi-final conflict with France, Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard launched a cross and instantly felt one thing was improper, as he slowed to a strolling tempo, headed to the bench whereas the ball was nonetheless in play, and took off his captain’s armband.

“We aren’t positive what occurred to Hazard,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez mentioned after his aspect misplaced 2 – 3 in heartbreaking trend. “We should test within the subsequent few hours what occurs to him.”

Past that, there isn’t any official analysis, but. We’ll know extra tomorrow morning upon waking, and hope for the most effective.

It was a bitter method to finish a disappointing night time for Belgium — a workforce that fully dominated play within the first half, went up two targets, and received good performances from practically everybody — significantly Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, and Eden Hazard.

Hazard performed in his acquainted Belgium position, the place he slides in on the left-side of the assault in a 3-4-3; whereas Yannick Carrasco takes the wing-back position on the left — permitting Hazard to play extra freely throughout the pitch as a hybrid 10 with out many defensive duties.

Hazard shone, as he nominally does with the nationwide workforce. He helped Belgium flow into possession in France’s third, because the Belgians had the collective aim of discovering the vertical cross to Lukaku as quickly as doable. As soon as they discovered it (and it was inevitable as France defended deep and passively in that first half), Lukaku’s hold-up play unlocked a collection of offensive potentialities, as Belgium would begin making slicing runs into the field and let Lukaku go to work with both a shot of his personal, or a pleasant cross right into a slicing teammate.

Hazard’s link-up play was tidy, his touches in tight areas fast and decisive. He usually roamed to the right-side, and was hardly ever stationary.

The Belgian completed the sport with 64 touches — however his affect was decreased within the second half as he and his complete workforce had been pinned deep throughout France’s comeback.

We’ll have extra on Hazard’s harm tomorrow. A report on Karim Benzema’s efficiency will go up individually.