'Gentleman' Henry hailed before emotional France v Belgium clash

Saint Petersburg, July 10: Hugo Lloris has labelled Thierry Henry one of the great gentlemen of French football ahead of what promises to be an emotional World Cup semi-final for the Arsenal great in St Petersburg.

France take on Belgium at Krestovsky Stadium on Tuesday (July 10), with their all-time record goalscorer Henry now a member of Red Devils coach Roberto Martinez's backroom staff.

Henry helped France to glory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and the sight of him attempting to help plot their downfall this time around promises to be somewhat surreal.

"I was lucky to play with him for two seasons in the French team. He's was a great player and a great gentleman of French football," Les Blues captain and goalkeeper Lloris told a news conference.

"It is true it is a little bit peculiar to see him with the Belgian team. But that is his career and now he is learning for his future career.

"I think his heart will be split because before everything he is French. He has lived through great moments with the blue jersey – he has the record of goals scored and the second most caps.

"He left a mark on the history of Les Bleus. He has a great passion for football. He will be with the Belgians and do everything to help his team."

2006 - Raphael Varane is the first French 🇫🇷 player to score in a World Cup quarterfinal since Thierry Henry against Brazil in 2006. Head.#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/bxRkJQLjgX

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 6, 2018

France coach Didier Deschamps played alongside a youthful Henry when Aime Jacquet's men enjoyed their finest hour on home soil 20 years ago.

"I'm pleased for him. He's somebody I really appreciate," Deschamps said. "It is a difficult situation, it really is not easy for him.

"When you face your old team you are part of the enemy team but this time it is notch higher. He is on the bench and facing his home nation, but he did know that from the time he was joining the management team to be an assistant to Martinez this could happen.

"On a personal note it is a great pleasured that I am going to see him."

Martinez is surrounded by the faithful staff that served him during his tenures in charge of Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton.

The addition of Henry has brought an invaluable insight into how the game operates at the highest level.

"Me and my technical staff have been working for 12 years together. We have clarity," the Spaniard explained.

"What we didn't have is international experience, the knowhow of winning a World Cup and being expected to perform in front of the eyes of the world. Thierry Henry brings that.

"We cannot follow the path of another Belgian generation who won a World Cup. Thierry Henry brings that [experience] as a footballer of elite thoughts. He was the perfect missing piece in our group."

🛬✔🤗🇷🇺

привет [privet] = Hi #StPetersburg #REDTOGETHER#WorldCup
🔜 #FRABEL pic.twitter.com/wzDDiFbNIj

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 9, 2018

One of the keys to Belgium's players joining Henry in potentially claiming that rarefied status of being World Cup winners will be the performance of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne against Les Bleus.

"Maybe he's going to sing La Marseillaise, which I would find normal," De Bruyne said when pondering how Henry might react during the pre-match formalities.

"It could be a little bit difficult but he's working for Belgium now and he wants us to win. It's his job, that's football."

Source: OPTA