Eden Hazard has made the World Cup his sole focus during this season and his anger might propel Belgium to victory in Russia, according to Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur.
Kristof also explained the dichotomy in Belgian society that influences tonight's match with neighbours France.
"It's more [of a rivalry] for the French part of the country - for the Flemish part, we have always been closer to Holland and Holland is our main enemy - France we have always been friendly with. It is strange in a way, but it is only France. If it would have been Germany or Holland, there would have been even more excitement about the Belgium game. It is still only France - they are our friends."
Terreur also gave a personal anecdote that shows Hazard's unwavering confidence in himself and Belgium.
"I chatted him after the FA Cup final and I told them that I wouldn't be covering all Belgium games at the World Cup, only the first two and not the later games.
"He said 'Yeah, don't worry - we will see each other in Moscow on the 15th!'"
There have been plenty of pictures disseminated online of Hazard in his brothers wearing France jerseys, circa 1998 - but Kristof has no worries about split allegiances.
"I understand that if the Hazard boys were English and they were wearing an Ireland shirt for instance when they were kids then there would have been huge stories about it. Even in Belgium, this story was already known. That picture has been published already four hundred times! We accepted it because at that time Belgium were not in their best period. Even I didn't have Belgian football heroes - we were cheering for Brazil, we were cheering for England, we were cheering for France - we were supporting other nations.
"It's understandable because he basically almost grew up in France; he moved to France when he was 12 or 13 years old."
It is Eden Hazard's individual drive and performance that has given Kristof cause for optimism.
"It will depend on the tactics, but he has been doing well. He wasn't that good against Japan, but he was brilliant in the first half against Brazil . That was the best 45 minutes I've ever seen of him in the national team - he didn't lose a ball. He always found a space. But it's the men we are expecting to do it along with Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
"But as he is our captain, he has made this World Cup his goal this season after a disappointing season with Chelsea where he didn't really get along with Conte anymore. He had an injury before the start of the season and had some ups and downs."
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