BELGIUM PLOTS FRENCH EJECTION
BUOYED by their biggest ever win, Belgium’s golden generation have vowed to take on France in a bid to create history by reaching the World Cup final for the first time.
Belgium arrived in Russia armed with one of the most expensive attacks and their values have only soared after a barnstorming run of five wins plus a tournament-high 14 goals – England and Russia are next on 11.
Valued at $2.23 billion (€1.41 billion), France’s youthful side entered the World Cup as the most expensive team, accord- ing to a study done by Swissbased study group CIES, ahead of England $2.19 billion (€1.39 billion) and Brazil $2 billion (€1.27 billion).
Belgium started at No. 7, valued at $1.32b (€835,000,000), although that has since risen.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and defenders Rafael Varane and Samuel Umtiti are also highly valued.
But Belgium’s rock-star attack is collectively more expensive, led by Kevin De Bruyne ($261.12 million), Romelu Lukaku ($261m), Eden Hazard ($197.8m) and Napoli’s Tottenham target Dries Mertens ($117m).
Teen sensation Kylian Mbappe ($298m) will be the most expensive player on the St Petersburg pitch in tomorrow morning’s (Wednesday’s) semi-final but Belgian’s fearsome collective, which steamrolled five-time champion Brazil, will take some stopping.
“We are on an equal footing with France, we will try and do everything we can physically and mentally, that’s all we can do,’’ De Bruyne said.
“[France] is an extraordinary team but, when you reach the semi-final stage of the World Cup, you won’t find ordinary opposition.
“We are proud to reach the semi-finals, but once you’re that close you want to win everything you can. Only a few times in your lifetime you [play in a World Cup]. You might go to two or three in a lifetime — if you’re lucky.”
Belgium’s only semi-final appearance was 1986, ended by the genius of Diego Maradona who scored a double.
Coach Roberto Martinez, who has been linked with the job of his native Spain after Fernando Hierro’s brief tenure ended, has some tough calls to make after Maroune Fellaini impressed in place of Mertens.
France coach Didier Deschamps has backed Olivier Giroud, who’s come under scrutiny for not scoring, though his link-up work has been superb.
Giroud yesterday quipped that Thierry Henry had backed the wrong horse, with the Le Bleus legend and 1998 World Cup winner now part of the Belgian coaching staff.
“I’d have preferred him to be with us and to be giving his advice to me,’’ Giroud said.
“He’s a living legend of French football and we have a lot of respect for him and what he’s done, but we’re not going to think about that.”