Sweden vs Belgium reaction: Hazard preaches caution over Belgium chances

Chelsea midfielder has insisted his country will not underestimate their opponents in the knockout stages of Euro 2016

Eden Hazard has insisted Belgium will not take their eye off the ball despite their fortunate Euro 2016 draw (Getty)

Belgium may be one of the favourites to reach the final of Euro 2016 but Eden Hazard said Ireland’s victory over Italy showed how unpredictable the tournament was becoming.

Although Belgium have not fulfilled their vast potential in the European Championship, they are rated the best side in Europe in the Fifa rankings and in beating first Ireland and now Sweden they have collected six points without conceding a goal. They are also in the easier half of the draw.

“People may think we are bound to get to the final because we won’t be facing Germany or Spain or France,” said the Chelsea midfielder. “But you have seen what Ireland have achieved tonight and that is why we have got to be fully concentrated on what we have to do. Our first step to the final will be against Hungary and we saw the last few minutes of their game against Portugal. We will have to use all of our technical skills against them.”

The Belgium manager, Marc Wilmots, who had come in for considerable criticism after the 2-0 defeat by Italy which opened their campaign, said he was reassured how the team that was everybody’s favourite dark horses have recovered after this first stumble.

“Our problem was that we had a lot of players who were very tired after a long season and that showed against Italy,” he said. “We got a lot better after that defeat and we have now collected two clean sheets and we are looking more like the team that people expected.”

This was the last international played by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Sunderland midfielder, Sebastian Larsson, paid tribute to the 34-year-old who is likely to sign for Manchester United when he returns home. “We would have preferred another way to finish for Zlatan and for Kim Kallstrom who is also retiring,” said Larsson. “I am sorry we are leaving on a minor note.”