Class is permanent and all that
The best part of a decade has passed since Thierry Henry called time on his playing career. The lightning-quick acceleration may have faded somewhat in the time since, but there are some things retired footballers never completely lose.
Look no further, for example, than the free-kick he produced during a recent Belgium training session… Actually, no. Don’t just watch it. Listen to what Kevin De Bruyne – hardly Dejan-Lovren-against-Croatia when it comes to set pieces – has to say about it.
Despite his international allegiances to France, Henry returned for his second stint as part of Belgium’s coaching set-up prior to Euro 2020.
In a video posted to the belgianreddevils Instagram page (check the second slide below), Henry can be seen effortlessly curling a free-kick over the wall and beyond the goalkeeper. Having done so, he walks off without a flicker of emotion, despite the wild celebrations from the likes of Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQVwKxqIoPG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Judging by the reaction, this was Henry’s first attempt, with Lukaku escorting him away form the field immediately after it.
“Record top scorers don’t need this, man,” Lukaku can be heard saying as he takes him by the hand. “Come on. Go in, go in.”
“That’s the issue,” De Bruyne can be heard saying. “We’ve been training for half an hour, we’ve scored a few. He just goes with his left and kills us.”
Belgium play their final group game of Euro 2020 on Monday when they take on Finland. Wins over Russia and Denmark have already booked their place in the knockout stages.
