2018 FIFA World Cup: Allegiances split at France-Belgium border

World
Europe

01:40

Over at the Walloon municipality of Quiévrain in Belgium, and ahead of the country's showdown against France, fans in the border town with france are split with one fan even saying, "my heart is French, my love is Belgian".

Quiévrain is located on the border of Belgium and France. With frequent economic and cultural exchanges, it's hard for people from the two countries to treat each other as actual rivals. Carole Blondel is the manager of a local bar, and she promised fans from both sides will be equally welcomed on the match day.

CAROLE BLONDEL BAR MANAGER "We organize the bar so it's decorated half Belgian and half French. We put up French and Belgian flags. We're trying to make sure everything goes smoothly. We're organising little Franco-Belgian soirées, to celebrate."

Laurent Choteau manages a local restaurant. He is born to French parents but has Belgian nationality and has worked in Belgium for 25 years. As expected, his feelings are mixed.

LAURENT CHOTEAU RESTAURANT MANAGER "Every match, it's equally blue white and red as it is black yellow red. Every time it's the same thing. Whatever happens on Tuesday, it will be complicated for me because my heart is French, my love is Belgian. I really feel 51% for one team and 49% for the other, but I won't be telling you which way round it is now!"

There may only be one winner later tonight but there are two spaces in the hearts of these residents for each side.