Kante will have important role: Deschamps
SAINT PETERSBURG: France and Belgium share a 620 km border, French is spoken on both sides and there are several cultural similarities. But it is not merely these that will lend Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final clash at Krestovsky Stadium an air of familiarity.
Seventeen of the 46 players, five in the French team and 12 in the Belgian ranks, play in the Premier League; five others have had a stint.
“It is an unusual match because geographically, we have two countries bordering each other. We do play and know those players very well because they do play in the Premier League. They have three players from Tottenham (Hotspur) and I know them very well,” France skipper and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said on the eve of the game.
“The peculiarity is that there are many players in my team who have their club teammates facing them. It’s an advantage for both sides,” coach Didier Deschamps said.
Another familiar face for France on the Belgian bench will be former Les Bleus star Thierry Henry, who is an assistant to Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
“We played as teammates. He was much younger, I was towards the end of my career. But he jumped on the right train. Of course, it’s not an easy situation for him,” Deschamps, the 1998 World Cup-winning captain, said of his teammate from that triumphant side.
Lloris too had played alongside Henry towards the end of the latter’s career.
“It will be a bit peculiar to see him with the Belgium team but that is his career. I think his heart will be split tomorrow,” he said of the Arsenal great.
Facing familiar foes, Deschamps said France will be prepared to deal with different situations.
“They attack very fast. So, I have made sure my players are prepared for any scenario at the beginning of the match with different compositions and during the match as well,” he said.
Deschamps praised midfielder N’golo Kante, who has been a critical part of his game plan at this World Cup.
“He will have an important role to play tomorrow in the same way he did in every match. When he faced Lionel Messi, for example, in the Round of 16, he had a very precise role and he did fulfil that role extremely well. So it is true that we did not see Messi much when he played us,” Deschamps said.
‘CAN MATCH FRANCE’
Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne says his team is not worried by France’s firepower upfront. Instead, Belgium have the belief that they can go on to lift the title this Sunday.
“I think Belgium have a very good team. There are dozens of teams who say they want to be world champions. You have to show that you have ambitions as a team, as a group of players.
“We are here to go as far as we possibly can: to win the tournament. And that’s the attitude we will go with in Tuesday’s game,” he told reporters.
De Bruyne lavished praise on Kylian Mbappe. “He has become a star in France. He plays for a great team and is a star for the next 10-15 years,” De Bruyne said about Mbappe.
Head coach Roberto Martinez said there would be no let-off from his team following the 2-1 win over Brazil. “When you are in the semifinal of a World Cup, it’s a unique moment in anybody’s career. You don’t have the opportunity to switch off.”