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European neighbors will meet on Tuesday in St. Petersburg for the first semi-final of the World Cup football.
Former striker Arsenal and Barcelona, who were part of the team that won the World Cup at home 20 years ago, is now alongside Belgian coach Roberto Martinez and eyeing the loopholes of French armor.
"It will be weird to have it against us," said French striker Olivier Giroud. "He is a living legend of French football.
"He gave so much to the France team and we have a lot of respect for what he did, but we do not think about it too much, we will focus on the field and our Game. "
A talented Belgian team consisting of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku is the only team to have won all of its matches in Russia and is the best scorer with 14 goals.
After ousting the Brazilian from Neymar in the quarter-finals, confidence is at its height, but they will face formidable opponents in France as they try to reach a first Cup final of the world.
Didier Deschamps's team, along with Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe at the front, struggled to score goals in his group matches, but has now reached his pace, dominating Uruguay after defeating Argentina.
France will start the semifinal in St. Petersburg as a favorite, with an impressive mix of young and experienced allied to the tournament after reaching the finals of Euro 2016.
With Hugo Lloris impressive in goal and a strong midfielder Paul Pogba and N & # 39; Golo Kante, the only potential weakness for France could be their inexperienced defense.
Belgium's Thomas Meunier will miss the match after receiving a second yellow card, but France will be supported by the return of defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi after suspending his own suspension.
For the fifth time in the history of the World Cup, the semi-finals will be a European affair. On each of these occasions, the tournament was organized in Europe.
In the other clash last-four on Wednesday, England faces Croatia in Moscow.
Gareth Southgate, the boss of England, told his players that they could be bigger heroes than the 1966 generation, which starred Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton.
"I have met many of these players and we know exactly how they are held and perhaps, in the modern era, it would be even crazier," Southgate told British newspapers.
"(With) social media and all the rest, the overall thing is so much bigger."
England is seized by the fever of the World Cup. Nearly 20 million viewers watching the win over Sweden and social media are inundated with videos of excited fans who are watching the big screens in bars and parks, fanatically celebrating all the goals of the game. ;England.
Captain Harry Kane is the man who leads the charge of England in Russia with six goals up here, placing him ahead of the race for the Golden Boot. Lukaku is on four goals and France's Griezmann and Mbappe each have three goals.
Despite the impressive number of Kane, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic identified Raheem Sterling as the danger man of England in their semifinal.
Sterling was a key element on the Manchester City side who won the Premier League last season, but he was less effective in charging England for the last four for the first time since 1990.
"I think Raheem Sterling is an important player because he's fast and dangerous alongside Harry Kane," said Dalic.
Croatia, who owns Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona in a solid midfield, emerged through extra time and penalty shoot-outs against Denmark before again playing the game against Russia on Saturday in the quarter-finals. final.
"Our last three games were different because we played teams with a defensive approach," he said.
"But we are looking forward to a different style of play against England because they like to play offensive football."
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