Belgium may have earned a comfortable 6-0 victory against Gibraltar in their latest World Cup Qualifier, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wasn’t best pleased with his international and club team-mate Eden Hazard.
Crystal Palace striker Cristian Benteke bagged a hat-trick – which included the opener after only six seconds – whilst Axel Witsel, winger Dries Mertens, and Hazard completed the comprehensive win against the Gibraltans in Faro, to continue their 100% winning record in the qualifiers to top Group H.
But despite the victory, it was Hazard who was slammed by Courtois after the game, with the Belgium number one believing the winger’s flash skill almost denied yet another clean sheet for Roberto Martinez’s side.
“I was angry with Eden Hazard because he tried a backheel in a part of the pitch where he shouldn’t have,” Courtois fumed after the game, as per the Mirror.
“I absolutely wanted to keep a clean sheet. I yelled to everyone understood that we had to stay sharp. We had little to gain here,” concluded Courtois, who is yet to concede a single goal in the qualification stages of the competition.
Courtois also believes Belgium have plenty more to give despite the big victory, emphasising that the Red Devils can’t rest on their laurels in their bid to get to the World Cup Finals in Russia in 2018.
“We showed we respected our opponent. We have one and a half more years to improve and be ready for the World Cup,” he concluded.
The Chelsea stopper has kept only two clean sheets from seven games for the club so far this season and has come in for some fierce criticism for his performances for the Blues but has kept his place in new boss Antonio Conte’s team, with Bosnian ‘keeper Asmir Begovic waiting in the wings.
The 24-year-old has also managed to force off strong competition from Liverpool’s Simon Mingolet for the number one jersey for the national side as well.
Courtois has so far appeared 36 times for his country since making his debut back in 2011, which has ensured Mignolet has to play second in command for the goalkeeping duties.
So what do you think, is Courtois right to heckle Hazard for slipping standards, or should he just enjoy the victory?