Happy homecoming for Hazard

Playmaker Eden Hazard enjoyed a trip down memory lane as hosts Belgium started their UEFA European Under-17 Championship quest with a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

'Familiar faces'
The 16-year-old was on familiar territory at the Stade Luberton having started his career playing for local side AFC Tubize between the ages of nine and 14 before being snapped up by French club LOSC Lille Métropole. "It's really nice to come back to the place where I spent five years and to see all the familiar faces again," he told uefa.com. "When I looked around the stadium it looked as if the only people in the stands were friends and family members."

Cool conversion
Nonetheless, Hazard did not feel any pressure as he stepped up to convert a 57th-minute penalty after being upended in the area by Marko Matic to make it 2-1 in the Group B encounter. "At that moment it made no difference who was sitting in the stands," he said. "I just had to do my duty for the team. Obviously then it felt great to know that so many people were watching but the main thing was that I put my team in the lead again."

'A real blow'
However, Belgium's hopes of an opening-day victory were to be dashed as Georginio Wijnaldum struck a terrific free-kick to level for the Netherlands three minutes from time, the home side having hit the woodwork as they attempted to make the game safe. "That was a real blow at the end of the match as we could have made it 3-1 before that, but all in all we can feel positive about our performance as we look forward to our next match," concluded Hazard, whose side next face England in Tournai on Friday.