World Cup 2018: 5 pairs of clubmates who will go head-to-head in the group stage

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-REAL MADRID — Friends to Foes!

#2 Eden Hazard - Gary Cahill (Chelsea)

Arsenal v Chelsea - Premier League - Emirates Stadium — Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard play for Chelsea at the club level

Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill joined Premier League big guns Chelsea back in 2012 and have been teammates ever since. During their six years at the club, the two have led the Blues to the Premier League title twice, the UEFA Europa League, the English League Cup and most recently the FA Cup.

However, the longtime clubmates will have to keep their friendship aside as they sport the colours of their respective nations.

Hazard will be wearing the number 10 jersey and also the captain's armband for Belgium at the World Cup. The Red Devils have got a young but experienced side in their hands and could possibly challenge for the trophy if the likes of Hazard are on top of their form.

Gary Cahill won't be captaining his team England like his clubmate but will prove to be a leader at the back for the Three Lions. The centre-back along with Manchester United's Ashley Young are the oldest players in the 23-man squad named by manager Gareth Southgate. The 32-year-old is expected to be one of England's first choice centre-backs in the tournament.

Belgium and England, who are placed in group G, will go head-to-head on the 28th of June.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Raunak J