Belgium Captain Eden Hazard has admitted he grew up supporting his country’s World Cup semi final opponents France.
The Chelsea star, 27, has scored two goals in four games to help fire the Red Devils into the last four for the first time since 1986. Hazard moved to Lille aged 14, and both he and Belgium coach Thierry Henry will have divided loyalties when the teams line up in St Petersburg on Tuesday evening.
“With my brothers, we have always been more supporters of France than Belgium because we grew up with ‘98,” Hazard said.
“At the time, there wasn’t the jersey of Belgium, that’s why we wore the one of France.
“I do not want to denigrate the Belgium team of the time, there were very good players, but at that time, it was France.”