Giroud aims to prove Henry wrong

If only France's young players had an outstanding ex-pro they could turn to for advice about how to beat Belgium in the World Cup semifinals, someone who won the World Cup himself in 1998 and who scored more goals than anyone in his stellar career with Les Bleus.

Oh.Not only is Thierry Henry already taken but the team that hired France's record scorer as an assistant coach is, yes, you guessed it ... Belgium.

France striker Olivier Giroud is turning Henry's presence on the opposing side into an extra source of motivation for Tuesday's semifinal, which is France's first since 2006 and only the second ever for Belgium.

"I would be proud to show Titi that he chose the wrong camp," Giroud said Sunday, referring to Henry by his nickname. "It is true that it is strange to have him against us for this match. I think it will be a peculiar match for him. As long as we win, that's fine with me."

Henry was part of the 1998 team that won the World Cup on home turf, scoring three goals in his first major tournament and converting a penalty in a nerve-rattling shootout against Italy in the quarterfinals. Henry did not play in the 3-0 final victory for Les Bleus over Brazil.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez brought Henry into the Belgium setup two years ago to impart not just his knowledge of goal scoring - he is France's all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 123 appearances, and Arsenal's with 228 - but also his experience of winning with a team weighed down by great expectations.

Giroud said Henry could coach France in the future and that working with Belgium will help the 40-year-old gain experience in his new career as a coach.

"He is lucky to be with a team with a fine generation of players. He is there to learn," Giroud said. "I would have preferred that he was with us and that he was giving his advice to me or to the other attackers. But we mustn't be jealous or anything about that. It doesn't shock me at all."

Previously, as a TV pundit, Henry suggested Giroud wasn't good enough, saying in 2015 that Arsenal couldn't win the Premier League with him in attack and needed "a top, top-quality striker."

Giroud, now with Chelsea, says he bears no hard feelings.

For TV work, Henry "needed to be a bit incisive," he said. "I am not at all bitter about that."

"It's been a few years now that he said certain things in the media before going back on his words or at least changing them," Giroud said. "There is a lot of respect between us."

Goal-fest possible

Considering the attacking might of both sides, a goal-fest looks possible when France and Belgium meet Tuesday night in the World Cup semifinals.

There was less at stake the last time the European neighbors and rivals faced each other at the World Cup, a 4-2 victory for France in the third-place match in 1986. That was the last competitive match between the teams. When they played in an exhibition three years ago at Stade de France, Belgium dominated, taking a three-goal lead five minutes into the second half of a 4-3 victory.

France's players were jeered at their national stadium on the eve of the 2002 World Cup when the defending champions lost a friendly to Belgium 2-1.

But with the second-youngest roster at the World Cup, France has advanced to its first World Cup semifinal since 2006 led by 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe and a pair of inexperienced attacking fullbacks in Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez.

"We're not scared of anyone," Pavard said. "We've been confident from the start and we're not asking any questions of ourselves."

Coach Didier Deschamps, the captain of France's titlists at the '98 World Cup and 2000 European Championship, has instilled a steely mentality.

"He motivates the troops with strong words," Pavard said. "We're ready to go to war with him."

MBAPPE THREAT

While Giroud has yet to score at this World Cup, his ability to hold the ball up suits France's system and allows Mbappe to make runs down the right flank. It also gives Antoine Griezmann space to roam.

"I try to create gaps for my teammates," Giroud said. "It's my unselfish side."

Giroud needs one goal to move ahead of France great Zinedine Zidane. They are tied on fourth overall with 31. Henry leads with 51.

Griezmann has scored two penalty kicks and set up Raphael Varane's headed goal against Uruguay. But he has not shown the form he did when he led France is scoring en route to the Euro 2016 final, when Les Bleus lost to Portugal.

Belgium struggled against Japan when defending quick and mobile players.