By D. Crossan
France are at full strength as they attempt to beat neighbours Belgium in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday evening to qualify for the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Tuesday, July 10 2018
FIFA World Cup semi-final
France – Belgium 
One of the intriguing subplots in the battle to face either England or Croatia in Sunday’s final is Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps pitting his wits against Thierry Henry, his fellow world champion from 1998. The great striker is assistant coach to Roberto Martinez with Belgium.
Deschamps v Henry
Deschamps commented: “Honestly I’m happy to see him again. We were team-mates and afterwards I had the chance to appreciate all that he did for the French national side. It’s not easy for him. Taking on your own country is really a cut above anything else, but he knew the risk existed when he integrated the Belgium coaching staff.”
Kylian Mbappé sat out training on the eve of the semi-final, as a precaution, while N’Golo Kanté and Benjamin Pavard had specially tailored sessions. Samuel Umtiti has been fighting a knee problem since the start of the tournament but Deschamps has everybody available as Benjamin Mendy has recovered from his knee complaint. Deschamps confirmed: “We have nobody out for the semi-final. Four players won’t take a full part in training today (Monday) but everyone will be available for the match.”
Select club
Deschamps has the possibility of joining Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer as a World Cup winner as a player and a coach and said: “For now I’m just part of a wider circle of those qualified for the semi-finals. I hope this will be something spoken of again a bit later. We know our semi-final opponents very well and they know us very well too. Some of the players get on very well with their counterparts and we just have to seize the chance that we have.”
Hazard: Mbappé is a cross between Henry and Ronaldo
Belgium captain Eden Hazard, who started his career at LOSC, knows all about being a Ligue 1 prodigy and has been suitably impressed by 19-year-old French star Kylian Mbappé. Hazard gushed: “For me, he’s a cross between Thierry Henry and ‘O Fenomeno‘ Ronaldo. And we mustn’t forget that the lad is only 19. If you love football you can’t help but appreciate him. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times on Facetime and by phone and I’m a little bit like his big brother. I think he wants to be like me! I hope we don’t come across him too often because the youngster is really strong.”
Romelu Lukaku has already struck four goals in Russia and the Manchester United striker played well as Belgium disposed of Brazil in the quarter-finals. Hazard said: “In ten years time people will still be criticising his technique but if he stays in England he’ll become the greatest striker in the history of the Premier League as he’ll overtake Alan Shearer and all the others. Someone like Thierry Henry will always be better to watch but Romelu doesn’t care about that. He’s a machine in front of goal.”
Probable Teams:
France: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kanté, Pogba; Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud
Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vermaelen; Chadli, Fellaini, Witsel, Vertonghen; De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard
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