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Martinez: 'We must congratulate France'

"The disappointment is immense," admitted Roberto Martinez in a press conference after the semi-final lost against France on Tuesday. "It's a sad locker room, we missed the opportunity to go in the final."
"It was a very tight match, there were no great moments to make the decision in the box," Martinez said. "In the second half, we started well, with a higher tempo and we cashed in. The two teams had a different role, France played in counterattack, we tried to control the game. of magic in front of goal, and Lloris made the stops, the difference was to have a little luck in both surfaces, I'm proud of my players, they fought until the last second. France."

Vertonghen projects

Despite the elimination against France, Jan Vertonghen manages to look forward. "With this generation, we must be able to be at the top for two tournaments," said the defender.

Kompany: 'We did not feel inferior'

Vincent Kompany believes that the Red Devils were not inferior to the French, who beat them 1-0 in the semi-finals of the World Cup football on Tuesday in St. Petersburg.

"We did not feel inferior to this French team," said Vincent Kompany at the RTBF microphone. "We had the control of the game." It's not a game we lose to a team that makes the game difficult, we knew that it was going to be played on details. felt that it would be played on a corner or a stopped phase, but unfortunately it was not in our favor today. "

Chadli: 'Difficult to lose on a detail' [19659003 Nacer Chadli, who played on the right in the absence of Thomas Meunier, was disappointed after the semi-final loss to France.

"It is very difficult to lose, on a detail, on a corner," commented Chadli. "We also had opportunities, both in the first and second half, but we lacked precision in the end, but we gave everything, sometimes to find spaces, France played very compactly After the goal, they managed to counter perfectly … All of Belgium is sad now. "

Hazard: 'We can be happy with what we did'

Eden Hazard said he was proud of the Red Devils after the elimination of Belgium, beaten 1-0 by France in the first semifinal of the 2018 World Cup in St. Petersburg. The Devil Captain is proud of his team. "We showed that we had a very good team and if we are all very disappointed, we can be happy with what we have done, and as a captain, I am happy to have been part of this team", says the Brainois, who is not surprised by the game of the Blues

Umtiti Man of the match

Samuel Umtiti was elected Man of the match France – Belgium at the end of the first semifinal of the football World Cup in St. Petersburg. The French defender scored in the 51st minute the only goal of the match, which sends France to the finals

The Red Devils eliminated

Belgium was eliminated by France in half finals of the World Cup. The Red Devils lost 1-0 to the Blues in St. Petersburg. A Samuel Umtiti goal in the 51st minute was enough to put an end to the Red Devils' run in Russia

An Italian VAR

Italian Mbadimiliano Irrati has been named the main referee of the video badistance (VAR) for the World Cup semi-final between Belgium and France Tuesday in St. Petersburg, announced FIFA Monday night. He will be badisted by Argentinean Mauro Vigliano, Spain's Roberto Diaz and Italy's Paolo Valeri. As a reminder, Uruguayan Andres Cunha will referee the meeting. His badistants will be his compatriots Nicolas Taran and Mauricio Espinosa.

The Red Devils are in St. Petersburg

The Red Devils arrived Monday afternoon, around 15:45 (Belgian time), in St. Petersburg, where they will face France Tuesday night in semi-finals of the World Cup. Unlike the French, the Belgians did not train Monday at the Zenit Arena, the scene of the first semifinal of the 2018 World Cup. Roberto Martinez's troops trained Monday morning in Dedovks, Moscow region, before flying for the old Leningrad in the afternoon. The Devils had already done so before their quarter-final against Brazil. The day before the match, they had trained at Dedovsk, rather than at the Kazan Arena, where they beat the five-time world champions 2-1 on Friday.

The Devils (slightly) favorites

The Red Devils, after their victory in the quarter-finals of the World Cup football in Russia against Brazil (1-2), have, according to Gracenote statistics office, 30% chance of winning the world title. Belgium is the new favorite, just ahead of France (29%), who is his opponent in the semi-final Tuesday in St. Petersburg. England (24%) and Croatia (17%) follow in this order.

Last training for the Devils

It is under heavy gray clouds that the Red Devils performed Monday morning, their final preparation in the training center Guchkovo Dedovsk before the semi-final on Tuesday in St. Petersburg against France. They will fly at 14:30 (Belgian) to the old Leningrad where their arrival is scheduled at 16:00 (Belgian).

Jean-Marie Pfaff: 'Belgium will beat England in the final'

The Red Devils will become world champions by defeating the British in the final. That was the prediction of Jean-Marie Pfaff, former national team goalkeeper and Bayern Munich, in an interview with the German press agency dpa.

An Uruguayan referee

Uruguayan referee Andres Cuhna will lead the World Cup semi-final between France and Belgium on Tuesday in St. Petersburg

A lot of media with the Devils

International media have moved in droves for the training of the Red Devils, who began Sunday their preparation for the World Cup semi-final against France on Tuesday. There were more than 100 journalists from various countries around the training ground of the Dedovsk sports complex in the Moscow region. Of these, many French obviously, but also many Brazilians, Germans and English, attended the first fifteen minutes of the session, open to the media.

Eden Hazard, Lukaku, Kompany, Witsel and Meunier absent from training

After a day of recovery Saturday, the day after their historic qualification in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup Brazil, the Red Devils returned to training on Sunday afternoon in their Dedovsk preparation center in the Moscow region. They started their preparations for the semi-final against France Tuesday night in St. Petersburg (20:00 Belgian). Eden Hazard, Lukaku, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Kompany, Witsel and Meunier did not train with the group.

New tickets available for France-Belgium

Supporters can buy Sunday, on the website of the International Football Federation (FIFA), tickets for the semifinal between France and Belgium will play this Tuesday night (20:00 belgium) in St. Petersburg.

This game was full before the start of the tournament, but as many fans have canceled their tickets, there are again places available. The legion of Brazilian fans has probably anticipated a semifinal. But the Seleçao has returned home with in its wake some Brazilian fans.
      For the match between France and Belgium, there are still tickets available in categories from 1 to 3, with prices between 230 and 607 euros. Added to this is the price of the flight.

Pavard: 'We are not afraid of anyone'

Right-back of France's Benjamin Pavard, a native of northern France, and a former Lille player, recognizes Like all his team-mates, Eden Hazard, the captain of the Red Devils, is "a very, very big player with enormous qualities", two days away from the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, France-Belgium. "We know that Belgium is a very big team with big forts, but we are not scared of anyone," said defender VfB Stuttgart, 22.

Giroud: 'Hazard, a genius, almost a Frenchman'

Olivier Giroud, striker of the French team and club teammate at Chelsea of ​​Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois, was well placed to discuss the semifinals of the World Cup, France -Belgium of Tuesday in St. Petersburg. For him, Eden Hazard is "a genius, one of the three best players I have played with, he is a Walloon who speaks French, he is almost French, we get along very well and he is a good guy, very endearing. "

Witsel: 'The most beautiful moment of my career'

Axel Witsel delivered once again a very convincing performance in the midfield during the 1-2 win against Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
"It's the best of my career, and as a professional footballer, you can not dream of anything better than beating Brazil.When we were kids we all watched the World Cup on TV. to be there now in Belgium, everyone will go crazy, we are especially happy. "

Vertonghen: 'We would have given our lives for this meeting' [19659003] Jan Vertonghen was exhausted Friday night after the Red Devils' 2-1 win over Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. "We had an incredible performance, we needed this game to confirm that we are a golden generation and to avoid being called a lost generation, we are here, we believed in the qualification and we would have given our lives For this meeting, for once, the VAR expressed itself in our favor, which could happen one day. "

Lukaku: 'We still have two games'

Romulu Lukaku was still very altruistic against Brazil. Place now in France in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday in St. Petersburg.

"We know we still have work to do, we still have twice 90 minutes to try to do something good for the country." We are quite realistic: after the match, when we all got together, we thought we should savor this moment, but we still have two matches if we really want to reach our goal.

Hazard: 'We're going to rest mostly'

Eden Hazard , the Belgian captain was exhausted, but happy after the heroic qualification of the Red Devils for the semifinals of the World Cup. 'We had a little more complicated moments, especially on this match, but we defended all together. the goals we needed, tonight we're all very happy, we're going to be a bit of a party, but we're going to rest for the game in four or five days, I'm very tired. 10 minutes more, I would have asked to go out, I could feel my calves. '

Alderweireld: 'The will and a bit of luck'

Belgium qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup by beating Brazil (1-2) in quarter-finals Friday's final in Kazan. For Toby Alderweireld, the Red Devils won thanks to their will.

"Everyone says that we are the golden generation, which generates additional pressure, which we have demonstrated in this competition, thanks to our will and with a bit of luck it's true," Alderweireld told microphone of the NOS.
      

De Bruyne: 'Very proud'

The Man of the Belgium-Brazil match was "very proud" of Belgium's qualification for the semi-finals following the exploit against in Brazil.

"It was a special match, because it was a long time since we won against a great team," said the strategist of the Red Devils. This is the first time in 16 years, that Belgium beats a team of the top 3 in the ranking of FIFA.

Martinez: 'The important thing is the players'

"It's unbelievable, they did it," said the Spanish coach of the Red Devils at the microphone of the RTBF. "Brazil is a very strong team, but we have not accepted to be dominated by Brazil, it's a very special feeling, they are very special players, it's not me that tactically wins or loses. not a game, the important thing is the players, we changed the tactical layout in two days, we just gave players the opportunity to execute a plan, they did it in an exceptional way. remember already for those who are in Belgium and who will stay for future generations.We will give the best of ourselves in the semifinals.

De Bruyne Man of the Match

Kevin De Bruyne was elected Man of the match Brazil / Belgium, the second quarterfinal of the World Cup football, Friday in Kazan, Russia.

Belgium in the semi-finals!

Belgium won Brazil's 1-2 (half-time: 0-2) scalp in the quarter-finals of the World Cup of football, Friday in Kazan, Russia, to afford a second time in its history a place in the semi-finals of a World Cup

The Belgian compo against Brazil

Courtois – Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen – Miller, Witsel, Fellaini, Chadli – De Bruyne, E. Hazard – Lukaku.

Well-represented Brazilians in Kazan

15,000 to 20,000 Brazilians made the trip to Kazan for the quarter-final against Belgium. The Red Devils will be encouraged by 500 supporters.

NATO Secretary General wishes Belgians good luck

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wished good luck on Friday "The Red Devils, who face Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup football in Kazan (Russia).

"I wish the Red Devils good luck too," he told the Belga agency at a five-day summit of leaders of the 29 allied countries in Brussels. .

Martinez: 'Of course, Brazil is favorite'

The duel between Brazil and Belgium in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Friday in Kazan is for some a final before the letter between the best attack of the World (the Red Devils) and the best defense (Brazil). The Belgians place, as many, the Brazilians in the skin of a favorite. Roberto Martinez too. "Of course, Brazil is a favorite, the two teams are quite similar in terms of talent and quality of the players, but the difference is very clear," said the Spanish national coach of Belgium.