Belgium’s Eden Hazard (left) watches teammate Dries Mertens during a training session in Sao Paulo on Sunday. (EPA)
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots Sunday said he was waiting to see the best of Eden Hazard after a quiet World Cup from the Chelsea star so far.
The dynamic midfielder had been expected to set the World Cup alight but he is yet to score and had only limited influence in Belgium’s three group wins.
“I think for the moment Eden wants to do more. He can do a lot for us, I think everyone knows that,” Wilmots told reporters at the team’s training base.
“Now I’m waiting to see it. It’s not a question of putting pressure on him because I know he’s already under a lot of pressure.
“But I’m waiting for him to take hold of a match and impose himself. Even if at 23 he’s still young to be doing that.”
Hazard will get another chance to shine in today’s last 16 knock-out game against Jurgen Klinsmann’s tightly drilled USA.
He was rested for Belgium’s last group game, the 1-0 win over South Korea, but showed his quality when he came on in the final minutes and nearly scored.
“He can find gaps and score goals. We’ve discussed it together—he wants to be more decisive, but there’s a difference between saying it and doing it,” Wilmots said.
“I’m confident in him and I think all of Belgium is confident in him but I think it’ll take a collective effort from all of us for this to happen.”