Henry with mixed feelings at World Cup semi-finals

CAIRO – 9 July 2018: French legend, Thierry Henry, will face a tough experience on Tuesday night when his home nation, France, faces Belgium at the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

The former French striker has served as Belgium assistant coach since August 2016 and worked with the Belgian team at the World Cup qualifiers.



Henry, who won his debut with France when he was 20, hopes the game ends against the French for the first time in his life.



Thierry wore the jersey of “Les Blues” at 123 international games and was one of the key players in the French Golden Generation who clinched the 1998 World Cup title at home and UEFA EURO 2000 hosted by Belgium and Netherlands.



The French camp holds no hard feelings for Henry’s role with Belgium; even the starting striker for France, Olivier Giroud, joked about the situation, saying “I would be proud to show Titi (Henry) that he chose the wrong camp.”

Henry has had a great impact on the Belgian squad and they have a lot of respect for him after what he achieved in his football career.

“He is an idol for everyone within the group,” Belgian midfielder, Youri Tielemans, said.

Henry will stand against his former captain in 1998, Didier Deschamps, who is the current coach of France.



France will face Belgium on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg.