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Divock Origi plays down rivalry with Batshuayi over place in Belgium squad

Divock Origi has played down his rivalry with Michy Batshuayi over a Belgium squad place at the 2018 World Cup.

"That's maybe one for the papers," the Wolfsburg striker, on loan from Liverpool, told Kicker reporters.

At the weekend, Origi scored his first goal for Wolfsburg since early November when he curled a shot into the back of the Stuttgart net in the 1-1 draw at the Volkswagen Arena.

He was not the only Belgium striker to score in the Bundesliga this weekend as Michy Batshuayi opened his account for Borussia Dortmund with a brace in the 3-2 win at Cologne only days after leaving Chelsea on a loan spell until the end of the season.

"Michy is a super lad," Origi said. "We have a lot of fun in the national team, and I am convinced he'll score a lot of goals."

When asked whether in the end both players might make it to the World Cup, Origi replied: "That's a good question for [Belgium head coach] Roberto Martinez."

Having joined Wolfsburg last summer, Origi has so far scored five goals for the club, who are currently ranked 13th in Bundesliga with 24 points, four points clear of the promotion/relegation-playoff place.