Belgium need to play without fear of failure – Martinez
BELGIUM manager Roberto Martinez has urged his players to have a fearless approach for tonight’s World Cup semi-final against France.
The Red Devils moved into the last four for the second time in their history with Friday’s 2-1 win over Brazil.
In making the semi-finals they have matched the achievement of the side who ended up finishing fourth at the 1986 World Cup.
Midfielder Nacer Chadli has expressed his belief that having taken the “big step” of overcoming five-time champions Brazil, Belgium “do not have to fear anyone”.
And Martinez said: “This group has to play with no fear at all. If we approach this match with fear within us, we will bring ourselves down and we’d be able to do so much less than what we can actually do.”
Meanwhile, France’s captain Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, feels France are ready for the challenge of taking on a Belgium outfit who “know how to do everything” in their semi-final.
Lloris said: “They are an exhaustive team, they know how to do everything.
“I think the Belgian team is the most exhaustive team in all aspects of the game during this tournament – they are strong everywhere.
“They have everything they need to be a great team and and they are a great team.
“It is a fantastic generation and in order to beat them we will have to play a great match.
“We know there are going to be difficult moments, and we’ll have to be ready to suffer.
“But we will be ready because we have an extremely good state of mind, and it is the semi-finals in the World Cup.
“It is an opportunity in our careers and we have to grab it with both hands.”