So near... Frustrated Belgium rues what might have been

Soccer Football - World Cup - Semi-Final - France v Belgium - Brussels, Belgium - July 10, 2018. Belgium fans react as they watch the broadcast of the World Cup semi-final match between France and Belgium in the fan zone. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgians tasted bitterness in their beer on Tuesday after their dreams of a first World Cup final were ended by the narrowest of margins by their bigger French neighbours.

"I feel ill," said Denis Backaert, 34, after watching France prevail 1-0 in the tightest of semi-final encounters between two sharp sides in St. Petersburg.