Eden Hazard has come to the defense of Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens after his error proved decisive in Belgium’s 2-1 loss to Spain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Lammens mishandled a long-distance shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Mikel Merino to net the winning goal for Spain in the final stages of the match.
Lammens had entered the game as a substitute for Thibaut Courtois, who sustained an injury earlier in the contest. Hazard, the former Real Madrid and Chelsea player, advised critics to show restraint, labeling Lammens a high-quality player. Speaking to Stake, Hazard emphasized that the young goalkeeper has already demonstrated his talent at the club level. He noted the difficulty of stepping into such a high-pressure match to replace Courtois, whom he considers the world’s premier goalkeeper, and expressed confidence that Lammens will eventually succeed with the national team.
