World Cup briefing: Eden Hazard is optimistic for Belgium’s ‘golden generation’

Ibrahimovic blames Swedish media for World
Cup omission and Argentina’s Lanzini is ruled out through
injury

One-Minute Read

Hazard captains a squad that includes Chelsea team-mate Thibaut
Courtois, Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, Tottenham defenders
Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld and striker Romelu Lukaku of
Manchester United.

Described by many pundits as Belgium’s “golden
generation”, expectations are high for the Red Devils.

Roberto Martinez’s side are in group G with Tunisia, Panama and England –
another nation that were once billed as having a golden
generation.

But Chelsea ace Hazard insists Belgium have the talent and can
handle the pressure in Russia. He told The Daily Telegraph: “We know what we are. We
are good players, we all play in the big games in England, in Italy
and in Spain, so we know what to do. 

“The golden generation you had in England, 10 years or 15
years ago, won nothing. Now I think the fans, journalists, all of
Belgium, the country just want to win something. We have a golden
generation. We are in preparation but we will be ready for the
World Cup.”

Zlatan: I should be at the World
Cup

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has blamed the Swedish media for him
not being included in the Sweden squad for the World
Cup. 

The 36-year-old striker, who left Manchester United for LA
Galaxy in March, told reporters that he should be in
Russia.

He said: “The media says they are better without me so
that’s why I believe in them. This is the Swedish media mentality.
I don’t have a typical Swedish name. I’m not the typical Swedish
attitude, behaviour and that and still I have the record in the
national team.

“I think it’s the biggest party in football, playing in
the World Cup. All the best players are there. Zlatan is not there
so… he should have been there. But he’s not there.”

Lanzini suffers knee injury

Argentina will be without midfielder Manuel Lanzini for
the World Cup after he suffered a ruptured anterior knee ligament
injury.

The BBC reports that the West Ham star injured his right
knee in training. Argentina, whose goalkeeper Sergio Romero was
also ruled out because of a knee injury, are yet to name a
replacement for Lanzini.