De Bruyne and Lukaku sink Hazard further

The Belgian European Championship has been brilliant so far and has two positive and one negative protagonists: Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne on the one hand, Eden Hazard on the other. The first two were key in the matches played in the tournament so far. The one from Inter scored a double in the debut against Russia, while the one from City completely changed the face of the team against Denmark with a goal and an assist. For his part, the Madrid player has been a substitute in both games, has physical problems and has barely been able to provide some touches of his class, far from being a decisive footballer.

“The De Bruyne Effect”, the newspaper titled Le Soir his cover the day after the Manchester City midfielder’s exhibition against the Danes. “Kevin the savior,” wrote the Gazet Van Antwerpen. The spotlights were directed towards the blond midfielder as they had towards Lukaku in the opening, in which he scored two goals.

Best Thorgan

Eden Hazard’s situation is complicated, on the other hand. In the first game he was a substitute with the excuse that he was not physically fit. In the second he repeated on the bench. In both games he entered as a substitute, although against Denmark he gave the 1-2 assist to De Bruyne. Even so, it is considered very little baggage for a footballer who in recent tournaments has been the great star of Belgium above any other, also De Bruyne and Lukaku. His high level in the 2018 World Cup or in the previous Euro 2016 is confirmed.

However, his bad season at Madrid, full of injuries, is having continuity in the Euro, in which it will be difficult to regain his position in the starting eleven in view of the performance of the rest of the players in the same area. One of them is his brother Thorgan, who is seen with a physical spark that Eden does not have. The Dortmund player scored the equalizer in Copenhagen.

Also leading in the rotation is Dries Mertens, a starter in both games but replaced in the second at halftime by De Bruyne. And probably also Carrasco, who plays more advanced lately with Roberto Martínez. Far is that imperial Hazard with Belgium. We will have to get used to this duller, like Madrid.