Eden Hazard Reflects on Belgium's Football Journey and Future Prospects
Hazard Discusses Belgium's Golden Generation
Brussels [Belgium], June 8: Eden Hazard, the former Belgian football star, has downplayed the notion of the men's national team being labeled as a "golden generation" since their return to the World Cup in 2014. He referred to this term as mere "journalist speak," emphasizing the difficulty of winning the prestigious trophy and expressing pride in their third-place achievement in 2018.
Between 2014 and 2022, Belgium showcased remarkable football talent, featuring renowned players like Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Vincent Kompany, along with Thibaut Courtois. This talented group reached the quarterfinals in 2014, secured a bronze medal in 2018, and faced an early exit in the group stage during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Prior to this era, Belgium's best performance was a fourth-place finish in the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico.
As they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, key figures from this generation, including De Bruyne, Courtois, and Lukaku, remain, alongside promising newcomers like Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere.
Commenting on the "golden generation" label, Hazard stated, as reported by FIFA's official site, "That is journalist-speak. You can call it whatever you want. We had a fantastic group of players excelling at top clubs and winning trophies consistently, all maturing together. Winning the World Cup is incredibly challenging. We could have claimed a title! We had an impressive run, and both the squad and the nation take immense pride in our 2018 performance," he remarked.
Now retired, Hazard plans to follow football as a fan, supporting teams like France, Spain, England, and Portugal, while also hoping for a surprise performance from Willian Pacho's Ecuador. He is keenly observing his successors in the Belgian team, including De Ketelaere and Doku, as they prepare to face Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand in Group G, starting June 15 in Seattle.
"Belgium is undoubtedly the strongest team in that group," Hazard noted. "However, the opening match against Egypt is always challenging. The squad blends experienced players with emerging talent. Not being labeled as favorites might allow them to play with greater freedom and composure. While expectations in Belgium are high, they are not as intense as in 2018 and 2022," he added.
Rudi Garcia, who gave Hazard his professional debut at Lille in 2008, is now the head coach of the national team. Hazard has expressed his support for Garcia, stating that despite his lack of experience coaching a national team, he is well-equipped for the role.
"He possesses ample experience for this position and knows how to manage it. He is a straightforward coach and a genuinely great person. That’s precisely what we need," he concluded.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Belgium’s Complete Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Strasbourg)
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona)
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Matias Fernandez Pardo (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).