Eden Hazard and Belgium today accomplished one of the items on my list from last week: a dominant team performance and, as a bonus, an amazing performance from one of the star players. I also lamented how there was no wow team yet. Today that all changed.
While Germany dominated in their way, clinical and methodical, Belgium entertained. I am trying to find the best words to describe the enjoyment I get from watching football played the way it is supposed to be played. It is fascinating, exhilarating and wonderful when players play like we imagine football is played when we played at lunch at school: tricks, flicks and spectacular goals. It's a great contrast from the reality of today's football: well-organised teams (how I despise that term) defending as a unit.
And Hazard? You've got your Ibrahimovichs and your Ronaldos, with all their big talk about what they are going to achieve, without doing much to live up to their self built-up arrogance. Then you've got Eden Hazard. Arrogant? Yes, to a certain degree. But what successful athlete, in any sport, isn't. He had a terrible season in England, was criticised to no end for his lack of form. At the Euros the bad reviews for him, and his Belgian team mates, carried on after a lucklustre showing in their opening games. So what does he do? He plays like he knows he can play. He took control of today's game and was the difference maker between a great Belgian team and a fantastic Belgian team.
It may be a stretch but it made me feel like I do when I think of watching Brazil 1982. It might be relative to today's defensive, not overly exciting football (why do I watch this?). Regardless, and it may be selective memory, today was a joy to watch. Finally we may have a "golden generation" team that delivers. Only two years to go to the next World Cup and this team is young enough to still be together. But before that let's hope today's team shows up against Wales in the next round.
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