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St Petersburg – Eden Hazard and a brilliant Belgian generation stand between France and a place in the World Cup final as countries bring their historic rivalry to St. Petersburg's first semi-final on Tuesday. far to the World Cup, losing to Argentina inspired Diego Maradona in Mexico, then bowing 4-2 against France in the match for third place, the last nations competition.
France won a World Cup and a European Championship, and lost the final of the 2006 World Cup. Now with Kylian Mbappe their new standard-bearer, they are dreaming again.
Belgium disappeared from the front of the international scene for years before reappearing with its talent harvest.
With Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, they lost in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and at the same time to Euro 2016, but under Roberto Martinez in Russia they have already done a step further after toppling Brazil in the last eight in Kazan. with a very good generation of players who have been playing together for several years, "said French striker Olivier Giroud, who plays with Hazard and Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in Chelsea
" We do not want to They take Mickey. There is a great rivalry between France and Belgium, it's like a derby match. "
Beyond geographic and linguistic ties, many players know each other intimately in the Premier League.
Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku were close friends before becoming teammates at Manchester United, but Hazard sums up better that anybody the close ties between the nations
Born in French – speaking Belgium, he was a player on the other side of the border in Lille, and was the player par excellence of the team that won the French league and doubles in 2011 before settling in Chelsea
It is now the talisman of a Belgian team that has won all five matches in Russia so far and is undefeated in 24 matches, though he idolized Zinedine Zidane
.The French will remember what happened last time the teams met, Belgium separating them at one time. friendly victory of 4-3 in Paris e n June 2015.
The presence of Thierry Henry, winner of the World Cup in France "Of course, I would prefer that he be with us and he gave me his advice, but we must not be jealous" , said Giroud
. colleague Didier Deschamps has not convinced everyone like Fran This coach continues to favor caution, even if it appeals to some of the best attackers in world football.
Mbappe, who is only 19 years old, has already moved for € 180m and the Paris Saint-Germain striker announces The World Cup with a brilliant performance in the 4 victory -3 France against Argentina in the last 16.
The Deschamps team was less exciting, but just as effective as they saw Uruguay in the quarterfinals. They must be at their best defensive against the Belgians and turn to Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to take the best on the defense of Belgium.
"To do what he did [Mbappe] at his age, I never saw that, apart from Messi," said the Belgian Nacer Chadli, author of his victorious goal against the Japan in the round of 16.
"We went through Japan, then we broke a barrier by beating Brazil, in Brazil you do not fear anyone."
Chadli could play as a right-back for Belgium in Absence of Thomas Meunier suspended, with Thomas Vermaelen in play. France hosts midfielder Blaise Matuidi after suspension.
AFP
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