Angry Wilmots derides 'ordinary' Argentina

Belgium's coach Marc Wilmots reacts after a quarter-final football match between Argentina and Belgium at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 5, 2014. AFP
Belgium's coach Marc Wilmots reacts after a quarter-final football match between Argentina and Belgium at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 5, 2014. AFP

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots branded Argentina "a very ordinary team with one extraordinary player" after they overcame his side 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

"I'm not at all impressed by Argentina," Wilmots said. "They're a very ordinary team with one extraordinary player," he added, in a reference to Lionel Messi.

Belgium struggled to create chances after falling behind to an eighth-minute Gonzalo Higuain goal and Wilmots was unable to disguise his frustration.

"We saw Argentina's experience," he said.

"They break the rhythm, they take 40 seconds to take a throw-in, and they're never brought to order by the referee.

"We made some very small mistakes, but we learnt a lot tonight. We're very disappointed, everyone is very down, but I'm very proud of the boys."