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'France were lucky,' Belgian PM tells Macron

July 11, 2018 19:49 IST

French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) celebrates as King Philippe of Belgium (left) looks on alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the end of the FIFA World Cup semi-final match between France and Belgium on Tuesday

IMAGE: French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) celebrates as King Philippe of Belgium (left) looks on alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the end of the FIFA World Cup semi-final match between France and Belgium on Tuesday. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters

The Belgian prime minister told French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday that France had been very fortunate to beat Belgium and reach the World Cup final in Russia.

Welcoming fellow leaders including Macron and US President Donald Trump to a summit of the NATO defence alliance in Brussels, premier Charles Michel said the Western bloc must go on setting aside differences to protect each other.

Then he added: "Yesterday in Russia, Belgium played a great game against France. Belgians are generally not too chauvinist but frankly, Emmanuel, yesterday, the French team was very lucky.

"Like in football, fair play and team spirit are what we need more than ever.".

Macron attended the semi-final in St. Petersburg along with the Belgian king and saw France win 1-0 to earn a place in Sunday's final in Moscow against either England or Croatia.

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