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

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

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Hazard captains a squad that includes Chelsea teammate 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.

Chelsea ace Hazard insists Belgium have the talent to claim the
cup, and can handle the pressure. 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, ten 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 his
exclusion from 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…
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 rupturing an anterior knee ligament.

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