In ‘wong camp’ plotting their downfall

expectations.

Belgium has played neighbouring France 73 times, but the teams haven’t met in three years – and hadn’t met in a competitive game since the 1986 World Cup.

Now they play one another with everything on the line, sending Griezmann, France’s top scorer with three goals – the same number Henry scored in his first World Cup – against a Belgium offence Henry has helped to a tournament-best 14 goals.

And that’s not sitting well with everyone on the French side.

‘‘I would be proud to show [him] that he chose the wrong camp,’’ Olivier Giroud, the closest active pursuer to Henry’s French record of 51 international goals, said. ‘‘It is true that it is strange to have him against us for this match. I think it will be a peculiar match for him. As long as we win, that’s fine with me.’’

Henry made his French debut less than a year before the 1998 World Cup, joining Didier Deschamps – now the French coach – Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc and Patrick Vieira on perhaps the best French team ever. Playing at home it didn’t lose a game, blitzing defending champions Brazil 3-0 in the final.

Two years later France won a European Champions title, with Henry again leading the team with three goals. But that would prove to be the country’s last major title.

Now comes a team led by Griezmann, 27 that has led David Trezeguet, a World Cup champion and former team-mate of Henry’s, to make a prediction of his own: Griezmann and teenage team-mate Kylian Mbappe won’t only succeed Henry, they’ll surpass him.

Giroud suggested Henry’s real aim is to learn enough to earn a spot on the French coaching staff some day.

‘‘He is lucky to be with a team with a fine generation of players. He is there to learn,’’ Giroud said.

‘‘I would have preferred that he was with use.’’ - Los Angeles Times