Hazard was a disgrace last season.
So unprofessional: he scored his first goal in April.
But, incredibly, he was captain of Belgium last night.
Captain? Why?
After the stylish, ruthless Italians beat the decadent Belgians 2-0, Luca Vialli was talking about the balance between freedom and discipline, saying that Belgium had too much freedom.
Everyone says that Antonio Conte is super-competitive and tough.
BBC pundit Luca Vialli recalled that, “He was my vice-captain at Juventus.”
After the game, talking about Hazard, Luca said, “With Conte going to Chelsea next year, if he doesn’t run, he’ll be out.”
Belgian coach Marc Wilmots left Romelu Lumpaku on the pitch for 73 minutes.
Then he brought on a raw kid, Origi, who missed a couple of headed chances.
But at least Origi tries. I would have started the second half with him.
Both of Italy’s goals were superb.
When the magisterial Bonucci hit a perfect straight ball from the halfway line, Giaccherini pulled it down perfectly with his left foot and side-footed sweetly past Courtois with his right.
A faaaaabulous goal in 32 minutes.
In 90+ 34 minutes , after hectic,scrambling action at the other end, Italy created a perfectly clinical counter-attack. When Candreva picked out the unmarked Pelle, his volley was reminiscent of Luca Vialli himself.
A fantastic performance by the Italians in their first match of the tournament
Vialli summed up the night: “We had a game-plan and we executed it very well.”