Belgium's Courtois blasts France victory as 'shame for football'

AFP  |  Saint Petersburg 

said his team's defeat by in semi-finals on Tuesday was a "shame for football", criticising Didier Deschamps's side for a defensive style of play.

Centre-back Samuel Umtiti's 51st-minute header from a corner gave a 1-0 win, as they defended deep to close it out and reach a third final.

"It was a frustrating match. didn't play at all, they defended with 11 players within 40 metres of their goal," Chelsea told Belgian TV channel RTBF.

"They played on the counter-attack with (Kylian) Mbappe, who is very quick. That's their right. They know when an opponent plays very deep, that's where we have problems.

"The frustration is there because we didn't lose to a team who are better than us, we lost to a team who play nothing, just defend.

"Against (in the quarter-finals) they scored with a free-kick and a goalkeeping error. Today, a corner. It's a shame for that didn't win today." France, the 1998 champions, will face either England or in Sunday's final at

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First Published: Wed, July 11 2018. 17:50 IST