World Cup 2022 | National team: Hazard’s DFB comments taken out of context

It seems that Belgium’s captain Eden Hazard made a bit of a fool out of the German national football team. The Real Madrid star comments smugly on the protest action by the DFB team. But the excitement quote is taken out of context, the excitement wrong.

Belgium’s captain Eden Hazard recently caused a stir with a quote in which he – it seemed – mocked the players of the German national football team. The Real Madrid professional had criticized the German protest action before the 1: 2 against Japan – at first glance.

“It would have been better if they hadn’t done it and won,” said 31-year-old Hazard in an interview with TV 2 after Belgium’s 1-0 win over Canada. The German players had demonstratively covered their mouths before their game against Japan after FIFA announced consequences for wearing the “One Love” captain’s armband.

The statements were not well received by the former German national player Thomas Hitzlsperger. “Interesting comment from a player who only lasted 60 minutes in his first game and was outplayed by Canada,” the 40-year-old wrote on Twitter. “In the moment of victory we often see the true character.” Numerous media, including ntv.de, had included Hazard’s quote.

Hazard: ‘I’m here to play football’

However, the whole truth is: Hazard did not criticize the German protest at all, Hitzlsperger reacted to a part of Hazard’s interview that was taken out of context. “I liked the protest, but after that they lost the game,” Hazard said. And continued with a laugh: “It would have been better if they hadn’t done it and won.”

Hazard actually wanted to wear the bandage, but after threats from FIFA, like all the captains of the eight European teams involved in the “One Love” campaign, decided against it.

“A lot has been said. I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. I’m here to play football. But we were denied it. I didn’t want to start the game with a yellow card. That would be for the rest of the World Cup was problematic so I decided against it, but if I had my choice again I probably would have worn them anyway.”

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