Lost bet adds to Belgian heartache

– Brussels commuters, heading to work the morning after Belgium’s painful World Cup loss to France, had to endure the French soccer anthem piped through the city’s metro yesterday.

The reason: not only did the national team lose 1-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal but also the Brussels public transport authority lost a bet with its Parisian counterpart.

After the “Golden Generation’s” defeat in St Petersburg, Brussels instead had to “treat” travellers to the anthem “Tous Ensemble” – All together – by late French rocker Johnny Hallyday at 8 and 10 am.

Hallyday’s father was Belgian and the country honoured the singer’s heritage when he died last year. – AFP