Belgium captain Marc Wilmots has admitted that the decision by referee Peter Prendergast to apologise for disallowing a goal during Belgium’s defeat to Brazil, was scant consolation for him and his team-mates.
“At half-time, the referee came up to me and said ‘sorry’,” explained Wilmots. “He had seen the incident again on TV and admitted he got it wrong, but this is no consolation to me.’
Wilmots rose above Roque Junior and powered a header inside the far post on 36 minutes, only for the Jamaican referee to penalise the Schalke 04 skipper for a push. Brazil went on to win the game 2-0.
“I knew straightaway that I had not done anything wrong,” he said. “But it is another example of how the big teams always seem to have the luck ontheir sides.
‘Besides the goal, the Brazilian goalkeeper also made a lot of good saves at important times,” he added. Several of the saves that Marcos had to make came from Wilmots, who was a constant menace to the Brazil defence.
The midfielder who has subsequently announced his retirement from international football was pleased to go out in style.
“It was a beautiful goodbye,” insisted Wilmots. “I will miss playing for the Red Devils but I’m not going to change my decision. I have given a lot to my country and I’ve got a lot back in return.”
