The golden generation of the Belgian team began in Qatar at the end of a cycle. If after the premature elimination in the group stage it was the coach Robert Martínez who ended his time on the bench, now it is Eden Hazard who shelves continuing to play with the Red Devils.
The until now captain of Belgium has decided to retire from the national team. "A page is turned today. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008. I have decided to end my international career," the footballer posted on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid player, who will turn 32 in January and whose performance with the national team had generated criticism in recent times, remaining as a starter while he barely had minutes at Real Madrid, assured in that same message that "the succession is ready "and that he will miss the team.
Hazard has worn the Belgian shirt 126 times, scoring 33 goals. His debut came in November 2008 against Luxembourg, when he was only 17 years old. Little used in the white club during the last three seasons, the madridista counted on the tournament in Qatar to show that he "was not finished". "With the rhythm of the games I will find my level. I haven't been bad in a few months," he explained.
His announcement on Wednesday raises fears of other departures in Belgium. While goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (30) has assured that he will continue to wear the national shirt, other figures such as Romelu Lukaku (29) and Kevin De Bruyne (31) have not yet commented.
