FIFA World Cup 2018: Henry, France’s top goal scorer, is key to Belgium’s success

SAINT PETERSBURG: Thierry Henry is back in public consciousness. The lean look is now a memory. A thick beard completes the heavier version of the all-time highest French goal scorer who will now be plotting the downfall of a rampaging Les Bleus at Saint Petersburg.

He did that in Kazan the other day, always putting a word or two into Roberto Martinez’s ears, efecting a switch in the formation, or urging Romelu Lukaku to push deeper down the right and attack the space left by overlapping Marcelo.
Henry joined as Belgium’s assistant coach two years ago after Martinez made it clear he wanted someone who excels in the art of goal scoring. Apart from being the highest goal-getter for France with 51 from 123 appearances, he has 228 with Arsenal. Many have notched up more but few know how it tastes to win – Henry has the experience of winning the World Cup. He was part of the team that won it in Paris, exactly 20 years ago and was the scorer of the goal that knocked Brazil out of the competition in 2006.

Henry has savoured the high of 1998 and scored three when France added the European Championship title to their trophy room. The debacle in 2002 followed. Sailing across the whole gamut of emotional rollercoaster, Martinez decided that Henry could add that crucial x-factor to the extremely talented Belgian group and teach them how to translate opportunities into outcomes.
Lukaku would endorse it now, and so would Adnan Janujaz. Lukaku has four so far in the tournament and added the aura about him being the quintessential target man after the superlative yet goalless performance against Brazil. If indications are correct, Janujaz will be tallying up more in the coming season.
Henry has maintained a low profile since he joined the Belgium camp. “Thierry brings something completely different,” Martinez said when he announced Henry had joined the Belgium setup. “He’s someone that has been in the situation of having to develop a mentality as a team.”
Speaking before the World Cup, Henry had said that Belgium’s most promising group now must live up to expectations. “To be a golden generation, you need to put some gold on it,” he observed in a TV interview. “What I mean by gold is winning.”
Henry is a born trainer, they say. His knowledge, understanding and willingness to disseminate the same made him opt for the crash course that the Welsh federation offers to ex-players. Patrick Vieira and Marcel Desailly used the same route, avoiding the more circuitous French one.
It was during his apprenticeship that Henry met his current senior-in-charge Martinez who created quite a ripple by hiring Thierry as the ‘trainer of the attackers’.

His involvement was evident and palpable against Brazil. And one can safely assume that a lot of his experience with the greats of the game, especially Zinedine Zidane, has gone into drawing the blueprint of Lukaku’s runs and Kevin de Bruyne’s positioning in the centre of the attacking trio as a false nine.
The epithet of traitor may easily be slapped on the France’s second most famous son after Zidane. After France ensured their passage beating Uruguay, left back Lucas Hernandez said, “I hope that Thierry will not beat us. If we win, I think he will still be happy. After all, first and foremost he is French.”

France striker Olivier Giroud, who has been criticised by Henry during his days as a TV expert, said: “I would be proud to show Titi that he chose the wrong camp. 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.”
But for now, Titi, as he is fondly addressed, will sit on other side of the fence, scheming and plotting to counter and suppress the French uprising.
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