Hazard admits he doesn't deserve to attend the 2022 World Cup
"A new generation of players is ready to contribute to the Belgian national team. You don't have to play for Real to get a place in the national team. I don't like that. Especially when young players deserve to go to the World Cup. Cup", Hazard said on March 12 in the Belgian newspaper HLN.
Despite the decline in form, injury, leading to less playing time at Real Madrid, Hazard still attended the 2022 World Cup with Belgium. In this tournament, he started the first two matches when Belgium beat Canada 1-0 and lost to Morocco 0-2. Hazard was introduced in the second half of the 0-0 draw with Croatia at the end of the group stage, and could not help the home team avoid the outcome of being eliminated.
The World Cup 2022 is the scandalous tournament of the Belgian team. After winning against Canada in the opening match, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne declared that the home team could not compete for the championship because the squad was "too old". This statement caused a stir in public opinion because although many pillars are over 30, Belgium still owns many top stars.
After the loss to Morocco, L'Équipe (France) newspaper reported that Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen and Eden Hazard had a scuffle in the dressing room, causing Romelu Lukaku to intervene. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois later denied this news in a press conference and joined Hazard in declaring Belgium would fight to the end to progress but failed.
Not long after Belgium were eliminated, Hazard announced his retirement from the national team. The Real Madrid striker said he forewarned this news to his teammates in the car after the Croatia draw. Hazard insists he wants to make this decision sooner, after Euro 2021. But because he cannot attend the quarter-final against Italy due to injury and Belgium failed, Hazard wants to continue to attend the World Cup.
"At Real, I spoke to Toni Kroos about leaving the national team. He left the German national team two years ago and told me that, while the other players were on national duty, he took advantage of his time. It's for the family," Hazard said.
Currently, Hazard's situation at Real is not very good. He was rarely given the opportunity to play by coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, the 32-year-old striker still wants to stay until the end of his contract in the summer of 2024.
