43 years: that’s the time that has passed since Belgium’s last victory against France in an official match. On Monday, the Red Devils lost again to Les Bleus (2-0) in the Nations League, causing disappointment to their captain Kévin de Bruyne.
Present on Wednesday in the locker room of the legends match in Lens, Julien Cazarre did not need to be asked twice to tease Eden Hazard. “Hi Eden, how are you? What did you think of your old friends when you saw the match?”, he asked him. “20 good first minutes. After that, total nothingness, but hey”, replied the former Belgian international. To which he replied: “No, I didn’t ask you to tell me about your last matches. I would like to know what you thought of the Belgian team.”
And he continued: “No, because at some point, we French people ask ourselves the question. You know, we like you, you let us win all the time so you’re pretty nice. Why do you do that? What’s going on, is there a psychological block?” The former Belgian international, who scored 33 goals with the national team in 126 caps, prefers to dodge the issue. “I don’t know… I don’t play anymore, you have to ask them.”
“I tried everything to win against France”
Since the famous semi-final of the 2018 World Cup that gave rise to the rivalry between the two neighbors, the French and the Belgians have met three times in official matches with three victories for the Blues. One in 2021, in the last four of the League of Nations, when the Red Devils had a two-goal lead (3-2), and two in 2024, in the round of 16 of the Euro and, therefore, at the start of the week in the League of Nations.
Retired since October 2023, Eden Hazard assures that he “tried everything to win against France” and that he “cannot do more”. And tries to put things into perspective. “It will take a little time but you never know. In football, it can happen very quickly”, he hopes.
The former left winger, who played for Losc at the start (2007-2012) before writing his legend at Chelsea (2012-2019) and ending his career at Real Madrid (2019-2023), played a charity match on Wednesday between a selection from RC Lens and the Team des Légendes. The match, in favor of the association founded by Pascal Olmeta “A smile, a hope for life”, was won by the Blood and Gold.
Nothing to worry Eden Hazard, who is fully enjoying his “new job” as a former footballer. “I play golf, paddle. I have fun. I enjoy the children, I take care of them. It’s the good life,” he concludes.
- RMC Sport
