World Cup 2018: Eden Hazard supported France as a kid as picture emerges of Belgian hero and his brothers wearing France 98 jerseys
Forward is hoping to carry spectacular form into semi-final clash but admits he used to support France over Belgium as a child
BELGIUM captain Eden Hazard has revealed he supported semi-final rivals France as a kid.
The Chelsea playmaker, 27, followed Les Bleus because of their World Cup win on home soil in 1998.
Hazard, 27, grew up in a French-speaking part of Belgium and moved to Lille when he was 14.
And ahead of Tuesday night’s last-four tie, the Red Devils star said: “With my brothers, we have always been more supporters of France than Belgium because we grew up with ‘98.
“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.”
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Hazard also admits he now loves watching France teen sensation Kylian Mbappe.
He said: “I have a lot of respect for what he's doing.
“If Mbappe was watching videos of me when he was younger, now it's me watching videos of him!
“What he does is amazing, especially at his age. In modern football, we have never seen that.”
Hazard thinks Belgium will struggle to beat France unless they get the better of his Chelsea team-mate N’Golo Kante.
He added: “For me, he’s the best in the world at his job.
“If Kante is on top, you have 95 per cent chance of winning.
“It's up to us to do whatever it takes to stop him from picking up the ball.”
