Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted Belgium were the better team on the night as they went down 1-0 to France in the World Cup semi-finals.

Samuel Umtiti headed the only goal of the game as the French made it through to the Moscow final on Sunday.

Courtois snapped: "I wouldn't say the team in front of us was better than us.

"The team in front of us has defended well with 11 players 35 meters before their goal. And they've done this the whole tournament. Against Uruguay they score with a free kick. Today a goal from a corner. Pity, but that's football.

"It depends on the details. Every team plays to their strengths. Our strength lies with playing football. Their strength is defending and counterattacking with (Kylian) Mbappé who is very fast. But it's a shame, you see.

"France know very well we have a lot of trouble with teams who play very low on the field. But when it's Panama or similar teams, you know you still have a chance of scoring.

"Today it was very difficult to defeat the defensive line of France."