World Cup

Kevin De Bruyne warns Hazard to stay calm in World Cup matches

By Matthew Jones, Reporter | 12 June 2018

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne warns Eden Hazard to remain calm on the pitch and to expect aggressive challenges in the World Cup this month.

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has warned his international teammate Eden Hazard to be wary of any rough treatment in the World Cup.

Hazard suffered a leg injury in Belgium's 4-1 win over Costa Rica, following several aggressive tackles from his opponents.

The Chelsea winger will be fit to play the Red Devil's opening group-stage game against Panama on Monday, but De Bruyne has urged him to take care of himself on the pitch.

"If you are good then people try to kick you," De Bruyne told reporters.

"He is in a position where a lot of people are around him and you get kicked. Even if he gets kicked we get a free kick, an advantage, and they get a yellow, so it is positive. You need to calculate what is coming. You try to stay calm as much as possible. Sometimes that isn't easy but you just try.

"We try to dominate games. Even at 1-0 I think we were better than Costa Rica. I don't know if we can get better - you will have to see in the World Cup. The goal is not to win every game by four or five. The goal is to win each game that is coming. We know there are going to be difficult moments in a big tournament and you have to try to deal with those and then take advantage."

Belgium will also play Tunisia and England in Group G of the World Cup later this month.