(AFP) - Belgian striker Eden Hazard is playing in the Qatar World Cup finals in the dress of a fragile leader who is trying to prove his eligibility on the field, after a difficult season in the ranks of his Spanish club, Real Madrid, in which he was not a key player.
The 31-year-old defends his level by saying, "I have not become bad in the past two or three years. I have a desire now to show what I can do and prove my ability to present beautiful football."
Hazard, who was chosen as the second best player in the 2018 World Cup in Russia after his country came third, was not joking in front of local journalists on Monday before heading to Kuwait to play a friendly match against Egypt (1-2).
He added, "It will be my third participation in the World Cup. I want to show the Belgian people that I am still here and that they can count on their leader. It may be our last chance with this golden generation to win a title, and therefore we will try to do our best."
In its participation in the previous two editions, the Belgian national team was eliminated in front of Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, before losing to its French counterpart in the semi-finals of the last edition four years ago and contenting itself with third place.
Hazard, who played 122 international matches, scoring 33 goals, was an unstoppable winger when he shone in the French ranks of Lille (2007-2012) and then with English Chelsea (2012-2019). But his experience with Real Madrid was not successful at all, although the royal team paid a huge amount to obtain his services for 115 million euros, which is the most expensive in the history of Meringue.
Hazard talked about his experience with the Spanish capital team, "I would be lying to myself if I said that I am living this period well. I do not play, but I try to keep my smile. There are days when things are difficult when I think I will play and this does not happen. I have to adapt to this." the situation".
However, he confirms that he is "good at the present time, both mentally and physically," after he got rid of the injuries that had dogged him in recent years, especially after he regained "flexibility in his ankle" after he underwent surgery to remove a piece of metal from his shin last March.
Hazard reveals, "Now the issue is related to restoring the rhythm, which is the most important thing, because my speed has not changed," especially in light of the World Cup being held in the middle of the European season and a tournament that lacks the necessary preparation.

And at a time when Hazard is trying to regain his previous level, which will allow him to play a full match, or perhaps seven, if his country reaches the final match, the competition has recently increased amid the brilliance of Brighton striker Leandro Trossar, scoring a hat-trick against Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Hazard admits that Trossar has the right to play instead of him, saying, "Someone will take my position, that's how things are. If you are talking about Leandro, he deserves to be in my place at the moment, but I will not give up. If he plays instead of me, I will be the first to congratulate him." He continued his frankness by saying that in the last two years, "I do not consider myself one of the main players," but he dreams of proving his ability to provide a lot for his country's national team.