[ad_1]
Robert Defays, the Belgian, and his daughter Audrey, show their colors at home on Monday, July 9, 2018 in Blainville, Quebec. Belgium will face France in the semi-finals at the World Cup football. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Ryan Remiorz
Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Like most long-time neighbors, the relationship between Belgium and France is one that has its fair share of 39; friendly needling.
Belgian fans say that they usually be treated as the "little brother" by their French brother and be the target of jokes and jokes. 19659004] But on the football field, fans of the Red Devils, as the Belgian national team is known, hope to have the last laugh when the rivals will face in a semifinal of the World Cup in St. Petersburg Tuesday.
The French use their French-speaking Belgian neighbors to enrich their humor, "explains Robert Defays, a Belgian who has lived in Quebec for a long time.
"I think there is a sense of pride in France. They are very full of themselves and they would find it very difficult to be eliminated by little Belgium
"I think the two countries like a lot, but they like to make fun of it. 39; one of the other, "says Defays, the owner of a food products distributor in Blainville, north of Montreal
He notes that he has rooted (and wagered) for Belgium throughout the tournament, has not lost yet and adds that he likes fluidity and team work.
"You feel a rapport among the players," said Defays. "They never resigned."
This fighting spirit was most evident when they came back 2-0 to 20 minutes from the end to beat Japan 3-2 in the round of 16. They then outclbaded Brazil 2-1 Gregory Vloemans, who recently returned from vacation in his native Belgium and crazy football, will take another day off Tuesday to watch the team play the Blues in a Toronto bar with other expats.
The ex-Montrealer said that the city squares in Belgium were bursting to the brink when the country was playing – with all eyes fixed on big screens
"It was awesome , the way people live in Belgium, it's like "It's been 32 years since they're so far away in the World Cup, so everyone becomes mental … they're all super excited for all matches. "
We went head-to-head several times, the last time the teams clashed at a World Cup in 1986 – a 4-2 win over vi" There is not a single person who does not look, I can tell you, "said Vloemans, a man from Antwerp who moved to Canada a few years ago 19659004] In Montreal, the Modern Tavern of 1909 will serve as headquarters at the Red Devil at a party organized by the Belgian Consulate and it is there that Andreas Dhaene waits.
Apr After missing the 2016 Euro, the Belgian team has met expectations Dante said: "The Ghent native, in the Flemish region of Belgium, has been living in Montreal for nearly seven years and says that he has not been able to live. there is typically solidarity and friendship between European natives living far from home. 19659004] But Dhaene believes this will be set aside Tuesday.
As for the rivalry with France, Dhaene says it's no different from other national quarrels.
"We are neighbors, we love each other at times, and at other times we hate each other." Football is definitely one of those things, "said Dhaene.
[ad_2]
Source link
