Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots feels that Eden Hazard will shine in the 2014 World Cup if he becomes a team player.
Although the 23-year-old playmaker is undoubtedly talented, with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho calling him "the best young player in the world", Wilmots does not want Hazard to chase after personal accolades.
Despite admitting that Hazard, who was recently voted as Chelsea's player of the season, possesses a lot of talent, Wilmots wants the youngster to work with the rest of his international teammates to ensure that Belgium do well in the 2014 World Cup.
"Eden can be one of the best five players in the world. He has everything he needs, it's now up to him to release the handbrakes and go. He's 23 and has already shown what he can do. But he won't be able to do it alone. Everyone, including him, has to sacrifice himself for the collective. I have replaced 'I, I, I' with 'we, we, we ," said Wilmots.
Wilmots' side, considered to be the dark horses in Brazil, are being dubbed the "Golden Generation" of Belgium, having qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
However, Wilmots remains level-headed . "I'll only accept the term when we achieve something. We haven't even made the first step yet. But we are a nation of just 11 million and I'll have no regrets if it doesn't work out," the Belgian manager said .
Meanwhile Belgium skipper Vincent Kompany claims that he will remember this World Cup forever no matter how they perform, even as he is confident that his side will go a long way.
"This is the first World Cup for most of us, but I've been with this group for 10 years and we all get on really well. We haven't been to a World Cup for a long time and whatever happens I'll remember it forever," said the Manchester City captain.
"No conclusions should be drawn from the first game, but I have high ambitions and really want to fulfil my dream of going a long way."
Kompany says that the majority of the Belgian players – including Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku and Simon Mignolet – being involved in the Premier League has greatly helped the overall team chemistry.
"For all of us in the Premier League, there have been no difficulties making the transition. We've known each other all the way up from youth level ," said Kompany.
