For the Belgian team, Thierry Henry is much more than just a deputy – FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 ™

Thierry Henry is badistant coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez. While he will meet for the first time on Tuesday in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the road of the team of France as an opponent, focus on its important influence in the course of the Red Devils. [19659007] July 2 was the night of a rare show, the football equivalent of a total lunar eclipse: Thierry Henry smiled! Belgium, whose technical staff he is as badistant coach Roberto Martinez, had just overturned the table against Japan (3-2 victory, having been led 0-2 on the hour of play), and the best scorer in the history of the Blues has departed from his eternal stoicism. No doubt he will find him Tuesday, at the time of finding the team of France in the semifinals. To better hide the emotions that will bubble inside. This reserve, the former striker also has also about his work.

Well clever, indeed, who could describe the exact role of Thierry Henry at the beginning of this World Cup. Fortunately, three weeks later, as the Red Devils finally managed to confirm all the expectations placed in them, the tongues finally got loose. It was thought that the French, in his past, dealt exclusively with attackers. But no. "He gives advice to everyone, and makes us do specific exercises," said Thomas Meunier, "especially, he shares with us his experience."

A role … of inspiration

the purely technical, Thierry Henry also plays a role … of inspiration for the Belgians, who drink the words of a man who won a lot, when they failed ineluctably as soon as the level rose. We are talking here about a mental approach, unwavering determination and coolness to convey. We are talking about Belgium coming back and prevailing against Japan in the round of 16, or Belgium that resists without trembling with the Brazilian pushes in quarters, while the badistant moves and dispenses instructions along the line

In the mouth of the coach, Roberto Martinez, last Thursday in a press conference, it gave: "Thierry brought us an important element, experience.He knows what the players feel, he knows the pressure to win games. " But it is still the players who speak the best of this work as discreet as fundamental. Axel Witsel, last week in a press conference: "He knows how to win a World Cup, so we listen to him, he brings us this winner mentality to win every game."

Lukaku : "Since we work together, I have become twice as good"

Romelu Lukaku, in a text published in late June on the site The Players' Tribune : "Since we work closely together, I I thought twice that I was better, it was a difficult process, when I was training with Drogba, we were competing, it was my idol, but in my mind, I was fighting to be better because I wanted to Thierry is different because he is my coach, we have debates about football, I watch football all the time and he too, he helps me so much with all aspects of the game: understanding of the game, the technique, the strikes … I owe him b a lot. "

Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, we will inevitably watch each of his reactions. Will he sing the Marseillaise? What goals will the team exalt? So many questions that prove, again, that his aura goes beyond that of the simple deputy anyway. New evidence: Lucas Hernandez was questioned about it this Saturday in Istra. Answer: "Henry, he's been a very, very great player, a football icon, but if you win, I think he'll be happy, he's a Frenchman first!" And it is perhaps the greatest chance of the Blues.