Will Thierry Henry sing the French national anthem aloud when his current employers Belgium meet France in the FIFA World Cup semi-final today? Belgium's assistant coach may or may not. But that does not take away anything from the stalwart, who still holds the record for being France's highest scorer in international football with 51 goals.

Moreover, he was in both French teams that had won the World Cup in 1998 and the Euro in 2000. How does it feel to have Henry as a foe, the French captain Hugo Lloris was asked yesterday. "I was fortunate to play with him in the national side for two years — huge player, great gentleman. It's peculiar to see him with Belgium, but that is his career and that's how he is learning things.