Belgium star considering international retirement

Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard is said to be considering retiring from international football following Belgium’s disastrous World Cup campaign.

Despite it being widely acknowledged that Belgium’s so-called ‘golden generation’ was largely past its best, many still expected the Red Devils to challenge in the latter stages of the World Cup.

However, despite beating Canada 1-0 in their opening game, Belgium fell short against Morocco and Croatia and crashed out of the competition at the group stage.

Head coach Roberto Martinez has already announced his departure from the Belgium setup, with his contract due to expire at the end of the year anyway.

And with a number of Belgium’s star players in their thirties, it seems likely that multiple players from the World Cup squad could follow him out of the door in stepping back from international duties.

Spanish outlet Marca claim that Belgium captain Hazard is now giving serious consideration to calling time on his Belgium career, having made 126 appearances since his debut in 2008.

Marca cite Hazard’s deteriorating credibility in the eyes of Belgium fans after a disappointing few years in which injuries have restricted his playing time for Real Madrid at club level.

With the former Chelsea attacker just a month shy of his 32nd birthday, it seems unlikely that he will make it to another World Cup and could see this as the right time to end his international career.