Tuesday 17 June 2014 11:15, UK
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots wants Eden Hazard to 'release the handbrakes' and sparkle at the World Cup, but has also pointed out to the youngster that he needs to be a team player.
Hazard’s ability is without question, with the Chelsea playmaker billed as ‘the best young player in the world’ by club boss Jose Mourinho in February.
He is about to be offered the perfect stage on which to justify that show of faith, with his World Cup bow set to be made against Algeria on Tuesday.
Belgium will be looking to the 23-year-old for moments of inspiration, but Wilmots is eager to ensure that Hazard does not get caught up in the hype and contributes positively as part of a star-studded unit considered by many to be dark horses for global glory in Brazil.
He said ahead of an opening Group H clash: “Eden can be one of the best five players in the world.
Eden can be one of the best five players in the world. He has everything he needs, it’s now up to him to release the handbrakes and go.
“He has everything he needs, it’s now up to him to release the handbrakes and go.
“He’s 23 and has already shown what he can do. But he won’t be able to do it alone. Everyone, including him, has to sacrifice himself for the collective.
“I have replaced ‘I, I, I’ with ‘we, we, we’.”
Wilmots is aware of the potential he has at his disposal heading into Belgium’s first World Cup appearance since 2002, but is reluctant to use the ‘Golden Generation’ tag being bandied around by others.
He added: “I’ll only accept the term when we achieve something.
“We haven’t even made the first step yet. But we are a nation of just 11 million and I’ll have no regrets if it doesn’t work out.”
Belgium are quietly confident, though, that things will work out, with national skipper Vincent Kompany of the opinion that a settled squad can go ‘a long way’.
The Manchester City defender said: “This is the first World Cup for most of us, but I’ve been with this group for 10 years and we all get on really well. We haven’t been to a World Cup for a long time and whatever happens I’ll remember it forever.
“For all of us in the Premier League, there have been no difficulties making the transition.
“We’ve known each other all the way up from youth level.
“No conclusions should be drawn from the first game, but I have high ambitions and really want to fulfil my dream of going a long way.”
