E-Paper
France played ‘anti-football’ in FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final: Thibaut Courtois
Belgium struggled to create many chances after a bright start as they were left frustrated by a compact France outfit in the FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois blasted Les Bleus – who moved into a third final – for their tactics
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois accused France of playing “anti-football” during his side’s FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final loss on Tuesday.
Samuel Umtiti’s 51st-minute header saw France win 1-0 in St Petersburg, booking a spot in Sunday’s final for Didier Deschamps’ men.
READ | Paul Pogba dedicates France’s FIFA World Cup 2018 final entry to Thai cave survivors
Belgium struggled to create many chances after a bright start as they were left frustrated by a compact France outfit.
Courtois blasted Les Bleus – who moved into a third World Cup final – for their tactics. “It’s just an anti-football team,” Courtois told Sporza. “Their striker plays 30 metres from his own goal.”
READ | FIFA World Cup: Umtiti helps France edge past Belgium to enter third final
Belgium booked their spot in the semi-final by upsetting favourites Brazil in the last eight. But Courtois said he would have preferred to lose to Tite’s men, praising their approach.
“France heads a corner and does nothing more than defend,” he said. “I would have preferred to have lost in the quarter-finals to Brazil, at least that was a team that wanted to play football.”
