Nigel Farage compares England's World Cup defeat to Belgium with government's Brexit talks performance

Nigel Farage reacts after a goal for Belgium during their World Cup clash with England
AFP/Getty Images

England's World Cup result matched the UK government’s performance in the ongoing Brexit talks, according to a deflated Nigel Farage.

The former Ukip leader left before the final whistle as he watched the Three Lions slide to a disappointing 1-0 loss to Belgium in Kaliningrad on Thursday.

His comments came as he was surrounded by Belgian flags at a Brussels bar and restaurant close to the European Union's administrative heartland.

Mr Farage said: "If the Brexit talks are a match and if we are roughly at half time ... right at the moment I don't think the British have been playing very well.

Nigel Farage gestures with his glass at The Beer Factory Bar in Brussels
AFP/Getty Images

"Because we have gotten off on the wrong foot, we are accepting effectively being talked down to and dictated to by Mr (Michel) Barnier (chief Brexit negotiator).

“We are forever dancing to his tune and it is about time that the British Government started to come back with some really good positive initiatives."

He was joined by other MEPs and party supporters at the Beer Factory at Place du Luxembourg, an island wrapped in the union flag amid garlands, flags and hats in the national colours of Belgium.

East Midlands Ukip MEP Jonathan Bullock said: "They are fantastic, the Brussels people are wonderful and in a way it has created a bout of patriotism away from all this EU United States of Europe nonsense; so nothing wrong with watching it here in Belgium - the Belgian people have been absolutely wonderful."

The Place Du Luxembourg is characterised by pavement restaurants and wine bars. It is dominated by the imposing stone facade of the Gare du Luxembourg; with the message Welcome to Station Europe.

In Pictures | England vs Belgium, World Cup | 28/06/2018

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The red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolour was draped from canopies while women wore garlands and hats in the national colours.

Amid all the lowlands pride were a couple of England shirts and another fan wrapped in the Union flag, part of Mr Farage's beer-quaffing company.

Diners tucked into hamburgers, speared with a long cocktail stick with a cherry tomato on top, and chips in cones. Leffe beer was served in glasses with thin stems. Nearby, hawkers sold hats and flowers.

Nigel Farage watches England take on Belgium
Getty Images

Despite the football pride Brussels is a city on alert, following a series of terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital in recent years; targeting its airport and a Metro station.

With the full cast of European leaders gathered in the city for a meeting to discuss the migration issue and Brexit, security was tight.

Barbed wire, police vehicles, concrete barriers and even a bulldozer were arrayed to safeguard against any attack and roads near the meeting closed.

It was a reminder of the threat and less than a mile from the celebratory atmosphere which engulfed all but its British contingent at the Beer Factory.

Mr Bullock said: "It is not what we necessarily wanted but it does the team no harm to have a tough match, to witness a loss and be able to come back fighting.

"It may mean we get a better route through, so let's see what happens in the long run."

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