These are the semi-final matchups at the FIFA World Cup (SCHEDULE)

The first time Antoine Griezmann met Thierry Henry he was 7.

Just three epic games to play (and one “well we may as well while we’re here” encounter) – until Russian Federation 2018 announces its ultimate victor; Vladimir Putin, aside.

FRANCE come up against Belgium in the World Cup semi-final tomorrow, but who will start for Les Bleus?

World Cup favourites France are targeting the final in Russian Federation two decades after their 1998 triumph with one of their greatest players, Thierry Henry, plotting their downfall from the dugout of opponents Belgium.

The Belgium vs France FIFA World Cup semifinal will see many English Premier League players on show. Brazil were confounded by his unorthodox movements last Friday.

Martinez signed a new two-year deal as coach before the World Cup while Henry has not yet accepted an offer to continue. Hazard has heaped praise on the Spaniard and hailed the former Everton boss for his tactical plan that saw the Red Devils edge out the five-time World Champions Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals in an exclusive interview with beIN SPORTS.

Les Bleus have been steadily improving as the tournament has progressed, and in Kylian Mbappe, they have one of the best young strikers in the world.

Observe the cockamamie case of Thierry Henry.

And that’s not sitting well with everyone on the French side.

‘He has not told me what he is going to do, ‘ shrugged the Manchester City player. We know it will be a tough match. Lukaku and Pogba had been vacationing in the U.S., when the latter convinced the Lukaku to join Manchester United, snubbing the Blues.

Belgium are the top scorers with 14 goals, which some are crediting to the influence of Henry, while both sides have had goals from all around the pitch.

There will be plenty of exciting attacking talent on show when France face Belgium, which should make for an eventful encounter. But that would prove to be the country’s last major title.

Now comes a team led by Griezmann, 27. To think that he will wish France to lose is even weirder.

Though a very different player from the elegant Frenchman, the powerfully built Lukaku showed a touch of Henry in his intelligent dummy that allowed the ball to run through to Nacer Chadli to score Belgium’s victor in the thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over Japan in the last 16.

Another player who has enjoyed a stellar FIFA World Cup 2018 campaign is Marouane Fellaini.

Tuesday’s game has an added twist of intrigue in that the French and Belgian players know each other so well. However, and Suker has insisted that his nation’s semi-final opponents at the 2018 World Cup are fortunate to still be in the tournament. I am not too old.

Tuesday sees the first of the World Cup semi-finals as France take on Belgium at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

Strangely, Henry was not Martinez’s appointment.

France did raise a number of questions during the group phase of the competition over whether they were going to be able to live up to the significant hype surrounding their star studded squad.

“He is lucky to be with a team with a fine generation of players”. Lukaku says he has learnt the art of running into space from the legend.

“I’m sure he’s learning on a daily basis and giving good advice to the Belgians”. But we mustn’t be jealous or anything about that. “It is not something that shocks me because it is a normal move at this stage in his career”.