Hazard Mocks Courtois over mistake against Russia

By Joshua Walters

Eden Hazard has made fun of Belgium teammate Thibaut Courtois after the goalkeeper’s hauler led to the Red Devils conceeding a highly preventable goal against Russia on Thursday night.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper had a night to forget in the side’s Euro 2020 qualifier when he delayed on clearing his lines, after receiving a pass from Jan Vertonghen, to mistakenly direct a pass to Denis Cheryshev upon a light challenge from Artem Dzyuba.

The Red Devils took the lead at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium through Youri Tielemans but Cheryshev made the Red Devils pay for Courtois hauler when he pulled even with a simple hit into the yawning net.

But Hazard, who played with Courtois at Chelsea before the goalkeeper moved to Real Madrid, saved the latter’s blushes as he scored from the spot-kick in the 45th minute before killing off the game late on with a strike to make the scores 3-1.

Hazard could not resist teasing Courtois over his mistake after the game when he suggested that the tall and lanky shot-stopper had been watching too many videos of him.

‘I think he’s looking at too many videos of me, he’s trying to dribble like me!’ Hazard kidded to RTBF.

“But it’s not the same thing as he’s a bit taller, it’s a little more complicated. It will spend a little time on the internet and make a buzz!’

‘I think Thibaut waited a bit too long and this happens in football. We all saw what happened.’

The mistake on Thursday night aggravates a miserable season for the goalkeeper, who has made several errors at Real Madrid this season.

Courtois took over the goalpost from Keylor Navas under Santiago Solari, and remained the first choice under the manager despite the number of errors he committed in-between the sticks.

But the goalkeeper has lost his place in Los Blanco’ starting XI as Zinedine Zidane has dropped him to the bench after his return to the club.

The goalkeeper may have done himself a lot of disservice, however, with his hauler against Russia as that may not help his case in the hunt for a return to the Real Madrid goalpost.