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Roberto Martinez (Getty)
St. Petersburg – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said that luck was against him while they were running out of France in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, losing 1-0 in St. Petersburg while the "golden generation" saw another chance to escape
READ: On this occurrence: France 1-0 Belgium
A head of Samuel Umtiti from a corner was the difference between the European neighbors, with the Belgium enjoying most of the possession without being able to drop a superb defense French
. game. There were not many great moments that were going to decide the game and it came down to a dead ball situation, "Martinez said of the goal in the 51st minute that separated the sides.
" We had the ball and I think we have to give a lot of credit to France for the way they defended – they were very deep, they gave us a lot of respect that way and yet we could not find a little margin in front of the goal, a little luck.
"It was the difference, but if you're going to lose, I'm so proud of the players, you have to accept and congratulate France and wish you good luck in the final."
Belgium had beaten Brazil in the quarterfinals but was embarrbaded by the absence of the right-back Thomas Meunier suspended against the French
Mousa Dembele entered their starting group, but the team Martinez seemed to miss Meunier's offensive push on the flank.
"I did not see France running away with the match, it was just reduced to very low margins – the first goal was going to be vital."
Belgium won the five games in Russia by meeting the French, and had scored 14 goals in the process.
There will be no first World Cup final for the Red Devils, but they must now fight for third place on Saturday in St. Petersburg, against the loser of Wednesday's semifinal between England and Croatia.
"It's a really sad cloakroom now, because the opportunity to be in the final was the only goal," adds Martinez,
"We could easily have been frozen in. France was in the Euro final, but I do not want my players to be frustrated or disappointed." We want to finish in the lead, and these players deserve to finish in style. " [19659006Martineadded:"It'sadifficultemotiontomanage-you'redisappointedbecauseyou'velostoutatthefinalacademyandit'sdifficulttohavetheopportunitytoplayagamelikearipper"
They had their best World Cup performance, improving their performance in 1986, when they lost to Argentina in semifinal and then lost to the French in the match for third place.
team that lost in the quarter-finals of the 2014 tournament in Brazil and at the Euro 2016.
But the Belgians getNow ask if they've seen the best chance for this talented generation to win a major international title.
Fortunately, skipper Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and goalkeeper Thibaut C ourtois will still be in their twenties when the next European Championship will arrive in 2020.
"I think that # 39, it is too early to make an badessment on the tournament, "said Martinez, who extended his contract until 2020 shortly before the World Cup
" We must look at younger generations, but we have the will and the ambition. "
"Belgian football has a mine of young talents and with my role the euros in 2020, so I do not want to make an badessment yet."
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