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Argentina vs Belgium World Cup 2014 preview: Eden Hazard says Argentina can be beaten, in spite of Lionel Messi

The sides meet in a quarter-final in Brasilia on Saturday

Wednesday 02 July 2014 21:11 BST

(GETTY IMAGES)

They have been billed as their country’s golden generation for some time and now they have the chance to prove it. Belgium’s success in overcoming the United States in the most dramatic, compelling match of this World Cup so far has merely opened the door to an even bigger test – a quarter-final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Saturday afternoon – and Eden Hazard, for one, believes that they can pass it.

Belgium’s 2-1 extra-time success over the US took them into a first World Cup quarter-final since 1986 in Mexico when, ironically, they ended up losing to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina in the semi-finals. Maradona scored twice that day, including a solo effort almost as good as the one he had managed against England in the previous round.

“It is a big game for this generation,” said Hazard. “It is very important. We can make history. I hope we can win. We know the best player in the world is in this team, but we are not afraid. We can win.”

The Chelsea forward suggested that Belgium have a better team than an Argentina side notably reliant on Messi – “It is the difference [though] they have Angel di Maria as well” – and this was a view echoed by his coach Marc Wilmots. “We are not favourites against Argentina but there is a lack of balance in their team,” he said. “We will make sure we play well against a stronger opponent. I do not worry about what happened in the past and I certainly don’t think it will happen again.”

Angel di Maria celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi (GETTY IMAGES)

Belgium will certainly travel to Brasilia for Saturday’s quarter-final with confidence after they finally took flight as an attacking force against the US. Following criticism of their defensively sound if uninspiring performances in winning Group H, they were a different proposition in Salvador on Tuesday evening, where they had 27 shots on goal and would have won comfortably inside 90 minutes but for the brilliance of Tim Howard.

It helped that the US gave them more space to play in than their group stage opponents had allowed them, as Kevin de Bruyne acknow-leged: “It was easier to play with the ball, it was not like playing with 10 defenders.”

World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

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1/10World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

James Rodriguez

The player who has most seized this World Cup, and thereby most seized attention. James might have been a marvellous talent on the radar of top clubs before this tournament, and the £38m Monaco paid last summer reflected his potential, but the 22-year-old has simply moved onto a different level. It is quite a quirk that Manchester United could have got him for £5m back in 2010, because he could command anything up to £80m now. Real Madrid are believed to be leading the chase. Rodriguez has set quite a pace.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Guillermo Ochoa

Was his display against Brazil the outstanding performance of the first round? Given the stakes, the pressure, and the extent of the siege, there is certainly an argument for it. Either way, there seems little argument that Ochoa has been the outstanding goalkeeper of the tournament so far. The sheer number of high-profile high-quality saves that the 28-year-old produced are in stark contrast to what has been a humble club career, having spent three years at lowly Ajaccio. Last season, they got relegated to Ligue 2. This summer, he should have earned a move to a better level.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Alexis Sanchez

All of a sudden, it seems ludicrous that Barcelona would consider selling Alexis, let alone use him as a mere makeweight on a deal to bring someone else in. The Chilean may have been largely under-whelming in his three years at Camp Nou, but this World Cup re-asserted why they initially signed him, as well as what kind of player he can be when used correctly. The two goals against Spain and Brazil were a display of his elite finishing, the pace that brought them the kind of dynamic play top clubs crave.

World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Karim Benzema

On top of the world right now, but also someone that finds himself in a similar situation to Alexis: Real Madrid would gladly bring in what they perceive to be a better forward, but he has used this tournament to illustrate the folly of that. Benzema has been one of the best players of the first four games, combining clutch finishing with classy build-up play that has been central to France’s joyful resurgence as a world force again. He has also enjoyed his own resurgence. Benzema is finally looking like the devastating talent that Real first signed for so much money. He could command a similar figure again.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Vincent Enyeama

It was the 31-year-old goalkeeper’s error that ultimately cost Nigeria the last-16 game against France, but that was all the more conspicuous because he had been so solid before then. In fact, it was arguably Enyeama’s supreme late save against Bosnia and Herzegovina that brought Nigeria so far, given the ultimately slim margin with which they won that game 1-0 and then qualified. It was not the only such stop, and even the 2-0 defeat to France saw plenty of defiance. Lille can expect some interest.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Islam Slimani

Algeria were one of the most progressive teams of the opening four games, and Slimani their brightest player. Just turned 26, his career has shown a steady upward curve, moving from CR Belouizdad to Sporting Lisbon in 2013, and now making his ability all the more widely known. The two goals in four World Cup games also mark a superior scoring ratio to recent seasons, and the type of productivity he should be offering as he approaches his prime. Slimani looks ready for one of Europe’s primary leagues.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Daryl Janmaat

Beyond the three established stars of Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, it is Daryl Janmaat who almost personifies the youthful nature of this Netherlands team. He is 24, still based at home with Feyenoord, and is one of their many defenders that has impressed in this tournament with his maturity. Janmaat has arguably made himself the pick of them, especially for the solid consistency he has demonstrated throughout, as well as the way he allows a more counter-attacking Dutch side to turn defence into attack. It won’t be too long until he personifies this team in another way: moving abroad.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Miralem Pjanic

The Roma midfielder’s easy talent was widely known before this tournament, but perhaps the key is that he’s applied it in difficult circumstances. Out of a Bosnia and Herzegovina side that almost totally under-performed and went out in such disappointing fashion, Pjanic was one of a handful players – as well as Muhamed Besic – that played above his level. A host of top European clubs were interested in the 24-year-old before this World Cup. They will now have to pay even more than anticipated.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Bryan Ruiz

To think that this was a player Fulham have been all too happy to discard, banishing him on loan to PSV Eindhoven last season. Of course, much of that was the fault of Ruiz himself . He looked conspicuously lazy in a team full of languid attackers. That appears to have revitalised him. Ruiz has been the driving force of Costa Rica’s historic tournament. It was not just about the goals he scored that brought such momentous results against Italy and Greece. It is also about the touches and technique, as he’s now really doing what a player of his talent should. Fulham can surely earn a much higher price now.

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World Cup 2014: 10 stars who have shone during the World Cup in Brazil

Ricardo Rodriguez

With the way he surges forward from full-back, the 21-year-old has epitomised the adventurous and brave nature of this impressive Swiss team, and he has proven so productive in their energetic attacks. The exceptional Xherdan Shaqiri has particularly benefited from the space that Rodriguez spots and creates. That follows on from the nine assists he cleverly created for Wolsfburg last season. Having already spent two years in the Bundesliga after a move from Zurich, he has undoubtedly displayed that he is prepared for a higher level.

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Once again they left it late, though, winning in extra time through goals from De Bruyne and substitute Romelu Lukaku. De Bruyne was arguably Belgium’s best performer though he praised the impact of the squad’s two strikers, teenager Divock Origi – who led the line impressively on only his second international start – and the man who replaced him for extra time, Lukaku. “It is the same as happened before when Romelu started and Divock make the difference [scoring the winner against Russia]. Now it happened the other way. Divock did well but was tired and then Romelu did really well.”

A tired American defence could not handle the contributions from Tottenham’s swashbuckling left-back Jan Vertonghen and Everton winger Kevin Mirallas, whose impact as a substitute underlined further Belgium’s strength in depth. They may well need it against Argentina.

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