Real Madrid playmaker Eden Hazard has been dropped from the Belgium squad ahead of their final World Cup 2022 qualifier against hosts Wales in Group E. Eden Hazard and four others were dropped from the squad with a place at the World Cup tournament in Qatar already sealed.

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Belgium secured a spot at the tournament on Qatari soil next year when they emerged as Group E winners in the European section of the qualifiers thanks to the home win over Estonia. The Belgians beat lowly Estonia 3-1 at home to secure passage to Qatar. The motivation for the final qualifier against the Welsh team is to maintain their unbeaten run in the qualifiers. Belgium can also take their winning run to six games in the qualifiers with an away win over Wales.

Apart from Eden Hazard, the likes of Dennis Praet, Simon Mignolet, Thibaut Courtois and Jason Denayerwere also dropped, while Blackburn Rovers shot stopper Thomas Kaminski was added to the squad ahead of the encounter with the Robert Paige-led Wales team.

Gareth Bale won’t be able to have a reunion with Real Madrid teammates Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois following the news of their exemption from the squad to take on the Welsh team.

In the last game against Estonia, Eden Hazard played 62 minutes before he was replaced by his brother, Thorgan Hazard who plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois was in goal from start to finish, while fellow goalkeeper Mignolet was the substitute goalkeeper. On his part, Torino midfielder Praetwas not in the 23-man squad for the Estonia game. Praet is on loan at Torino in the Italian Serie A from Premier League side Leicester City.

Christian Benteke, Yannick-Ferreira Carrasco and substitute Thorgan Hazard scored the goals for Belgium during the game, while the Estonians got their consolation goal through Erick Sorga.