Eden Hazard statement

Eden Hazard criticizes Germany for their World Cup protest, saying, “We’re here to play football.”

Before their World Cup opener against Japan, Germany protested by covering their mouths with their hands, according to Belgium captain Eden Hazard. Threats of sanctions caused the four-time champions to decide against donning the “OneLove” armband, and the players reacted by covering their mouths in the team photo before the game. The Samurai Blue of Japan will ultimately defeat the Germans 2-1 in the match. In light of Qatar’s anti-homosexuality laws, other nations like England, Wales, and the Netherlands were also planning to wear the armband to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, but they also decided against it. Hazard poked fun at the Germans and emphasized their defeat. “They would have done better not to do it and to win,” he said.…