TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018 20

Romelu Lukaku Neighbours’ affair

Hazard’s block France path as Pic credit: SOSFactory neighbours clash in World Cup semi

AFP | front of the international scene for Beyond the geographical and lin- member well what happened when the world football. years before emerging once more with guistic ties, many of these players also teams last met, with Belgium tearing Mbappe, still just 19, has already den Hazard and a brilliant Bel- their current gifted crop. know each other intimately from the them apart in a 4-3 friendly win in moved clubs for 180 million euros ($212 gian generation stand between With Hazard, and . in June 2015. million) and the Paris Saint-Germain France and a place in the World , they lost in the 2014 Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku were forward announced himself on the Tuesday July 10 Saint Petersburg Tuesday July 10 Saint Petersburg E 1800 GMT Stadium Henry plots France downfall Cup final as the countries bring their World Cup quarter-finals and at the already close friends before becoming 1800 GMT WorldStadium Cup stage with his brilliant per- historic rivalry to Tuesday’s first same stage at Euro 2016, but under colleagues at Manchester United. But And the presence of French World Cup formance in France’s 4-3 win over Ar- FRANCEsemi-final in Saint Petersburg.BELGIUMRoberto Martinez in Russia they have Hazard sums up better than anyone the winner ThierryFRANCE Henry on the Belgian gentinaBELGIUM in the last 16. Antoine Eden Antoine Eden Not sinceGriezmann 1986 have BelgiumHazard made already taken an extra step after stun- close links between the nations. coaching staff as one Griezmannof Martinez’s HazardDeschamps’ side were less thrilling, it this far Agedat 27the World Cup,Aged losing27 to ning Brazil in the last eight in Kazan. Born in the French-speaking part of assistants adds extra spiceAged 27 to the oc- Agedbut 27 equally efficient, as they saw off a -inspired Argentina “They are a great team with a good Belgium, he came through as a player casion. in the quarter-finals. They OF SEMI-FINALISTS in Mexico and then goingOF SEMI-FINALISTS down 4-2 to generation of players who have been across the border at Lille, and was the “Of course would prefer it ifOF he SEMI-FINALISTS will need to be at their very best defen- France in the third-place play-off, the playing together for several years,” outstanding player in the team that were with us and he were giving me sively against the Belgians, and look to last competitive meeting of the nations. admitted France striker , won the French league and cup double his advice, but we mustn’t be jealous,” Mbappe and to get GOALS In the years since, France0 have won who plays with Hazard and Belgium in 2011 before moving on to Chelsea. said Giroud. GOALS the better of the opposition defence. 16 0 1 16 14 1 2 14 one World Cup 12 and one European goalkeeper at Chel- Now he is the talisman in a Belgium Henry’s old international colleague2 “To do what (Mbappe) is doing at his 3 12 3 10 4 WORLD CUP PERFORMANCESScored HEAD-TO-HEAD 10 4 8 5 Scored Championship, and lost 2006 World- sea. team who have won all five games in WORLDhas CUP not PERFORMANCES won8 over age, I have never seen that, apart from 5 6 6 Conceded 6 6 FIFA ranking SHOTS FIFA ranking Conceded 7 Cup final. Now, with KylianGAME Mbappe “We don’t3 want to have them taking Russia so far and are undefeated in 24 everybodyFIFA rankingin his timeSHOTS as France coach, Messi,” said FIFABelgium’s ranking , 100 7 GAME 3 700 2.8 100 90 32 700 2.8 RECORD 90 32 their new standard-bearer,28 they 2.6are the RECORDmickey out of us. There is a big matches, although as a boy he as he continues to favour a cautious scorer of their winning 80 600 RECORD 2.6 RECORD st Attempted Km covered* st 80 28 600 70 24 st Attempted st 1 round 2.2 1 round 24 Km covered* 500 1 round 70 2.2 1 round dreaming of60 getting20 there again.thousands rivalry between France and Belgium, idolised . approach despite being able to call on 500 against Japan in 2 1 Australia 1.8 3 0 Panama 60 20 thousands 16 400 1.8 3 0 50 2 1 Australia 400 Panama On target 350 1.6 50 16 Completed passes it’s like a derby match.” The French will re- On target 350 1.6 Belgium disappearedFOULS from the fore- some of the finest attacking talents in Completed passes last 16. 1 0 Peru 5 2 Tunisia FOULS 90 50 1 0 Peru 5 2 Tunisia 90 50 80 60 80 0 0 Denmark 1 0 England 60 70 0 0 Denmark 1 0 England 70 70 60 70 Against 60 Last 16 50 80 Last 16 Captain | Against Last 16 50 80 Last 16 40 90 4 3 Argentina Committed 3 2 Japan Captain | Hugo 40Lloris90 Belgium France 4 3 Argentina Committed 3 2 Japan Roberto Coach Martinez Roberto Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Best finish | Fourth place Coach Martinez (ESP) Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Didier Nickname | The Red Devils Coach Nickname | Les Bleus (ESP) Deschamps 2 0 Uruguay 2 1 Brazil Didier Best finish | Winner 1998 Coach HEAD-TO-HEAD 1986 HEAD-TO-HEAD Deschamps 2 0 Uruguay 2 1 Brazil

WORLD CUP RECORD Champion Finalist Participant Did not qualify WORLD CUP RECORD Champion Finalist Participant Did not qualify th 15 participationThomas Meunier is suspended for Belgium after he received his second yellow Djibril Sidibe is a doubtFIFA for15 thFrance,World participation Cupbut he 2018 is their 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 2002 2010 2014 of the World Cup in the 2-1 win over1998 Brazil,2006 which will hinder the Red Devils. only injury concern here.1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 France v Belgium th 13 participation th Tuesday July 10 Saint Petersburg 13Semi-final, participation July 10 Source: federations, FIFA *Total of all players Roberto MartinezFIFA could World bring Cup Yannick 2018 Carrasco back into the fold as a 1800 GMT Stadium returnsSource: fromSaint federations, Petersburg FIFAsuspension and*Total of all players result with Nacer Chadli operating from the right, though it may be that could replace CorentinHEAD-TO-HEAD Tolisso on the left France v Belgium FRANCE BELGIUM All-time the Belgium head coachSemi-final, reverts July to10 a 4-3-3 with Mousa Dembele and Youri flank. Antoine Eden meetings Tielemans battling forSaint a place Petersburg in midfield. Griezmann Hazard Aged 27 Aged 27 France 24 Belgium 30 HEAD-TO-HEAD All in all, Didier Deschamps is unlikely to Romelu Lukaku may alsoAll-time operate from the right once more and Kevin Coachmake sweeping changes. Coach meetings OF SEMI-FINALISTS Didier Roberto De Bruyne used through the centre. Deschamps Martinez France 24 Belgium 30 Possible line-ups D19 Captain Captain HugoHugo Lloris; , , Raphael Eden Coach Coach Kevin De Lloris Hazard DidierPossible line-ups Roberto Varane, ; NgoloRecent Kante, meetings Paul Pogba; Blaise Bruyne GOALS Best finish Best finish COMPETITION STATISTICS 0 COMPETITION STATISTICS DeschampsThibaut Courtois; , , ThomasMartinez 16 Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe; Olivier Giroud. D19 1 2015 France 3-4 Belgium 14 Winner Fourth 9 14 Captain Captain 2 9 14 Vermaelen, ; , , 12 2013 Belgium 0-0 France 3 1998 place Hugo Eden 10 56 85 Scored 4 56 85 1986 WORLD CUP PERFORMANCES8 ROAD TO SEMI-FINAL LlorisKevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli; Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku. Hazard 5 ROAD TO SEMI-FINAL 19 33 Recent meetings 6 6 19 33 Conceded W W 2037 2211 Best finish Best finish 7 FIFA ranking SHOTS GAME 2037 GroupFIFA ranking C 3 Australia 2-1221Match1 1 Panama 3-0 Group G 2015 France 3-4 Belgium 100 Winner Fourth 700 2.8 32 winner W Peru 1-0 Match 2 W Tunisia 5-2 winner 15 30 RECORD 90 15 RECORD 30 1998 2013 Belgium 0-0 France place 80 28 600 2.6 53% st Attempted Km covered* st D Denmark 0-053%Match 3 W England 1-0 70 24 ROAD TO SEMI-FINAL 1986 1 round 500 2.2 1 round ROAD TO SEMI-FINAL 60 20 thousands 2 1 Australia 1.8 3 0 Panama W Argentina 4-3 Last 16 W Japan 3-2 50 16 400 W W On target 350 1.6 Group C Australia 2-1 Match 1 Panama 3-0 Group G Completed passes W Uruguay 2-0 Q-final W Brazil 2-1 1 0 Peru FOULS 5 2 Tunisia Edenwinner W Peru 1-0 Match 2 W Tunisia 5-2 winner 90 50 80 Player to watch Player to watch D W 0 0 Denmark 60 1 0 England COMPETITION STATISTICS Hazard Denmark 0-0 Match 3 England 1-0 70 Kylian Mbappe Kevin de Bruyne 70 60 Against W Argentina 4-3 Last 16 W Japan 3-2 Last 16 80 Last 16 9 Goals scored 14 50 We will be ready and will 40 90 W Uruguay 2-0 Q-final W Brazil 2-1 4 3 Argentina Committed 3 2 Japan 56 Total shots 85 Roberto Coach Martinez adapt19 ourselvesShots on target to Belgium’s33 Player to watch Player to watch COMPETITIONQuarter-finals Quarter-finals STATISTICS COMPETITION STATISTICS (ESP) Kylian Mbappe Kevin de Bruyne Didier Coach 2037 Passes completed 2211 Deschamps 2 0 Uruguay 2 1 Brazil organisation, whatever it 9 Goals scored 14 is,15 due to ThomasCorners Meunier’s30 56 Total shots 85 WORLD 9CUP RECORD Champion Finalist Participant Did not qualify 51%14 Possession 53% 19 Shots on target 33 15th participation This group France absence. Belgium are 2037 Passes completed 2211 1930 1934561938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 85 not here by chance. 15 Corners has to30 Saint Spaceship-like Belgium Petersburg new stadium, 51% Possession 53% I prepared my play with 13th participation19 Stadium 33 designed Capacity: by noted Source: federations, FIFA *Total of all players players for different no fear at Today 67,000 Japanese Saint all. If weSpaceship-like 2037 22possibilities11 and architect Petersburg new stadium, it’s not linked to Kisho Stadium approach designed Saint Petersburg StadiumSource: FIFA Kurosawa Capacity: by noted 15 Pictures: Getty Images30 © GRAPHIC NEWS 67,000 this Japanese Capacity: 67,000 Belgium. I work match architect 9 PM 53%on it whoever Kisho Source: FIFA with fear Kurosawa we play Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS within us, we FRANCE COACH will bring ourselves DIDIER DESCHAMPS down and we’d be able to do so much Kylian Mbappe less than what we can actually do BELGIUM COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ

Antoine Griezmann