Macron criticized after bet with Australian PM on Women's WC
2 Min Read
A 'cringe' X interaction between Emmanuel Macron and Anthony Albanese has stirred up users to bash both heads of state.
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French President Emmanuel Macron greets Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on June 15, 2021. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron will be supporting Australia over England when they play each other on Wednesday in the Women's World Cup semi-finals, saying it's "nothing personal."
This comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese challenged the French President on social media platform X where he posted, "How about a bet Emmanuel Macron? If The Matildas [Australian women's football team] win tonight, you'll support Australia in the semifinals."
How about a bet @EmmanuelMacron? If @TheMatildas win tonight, you’ll support Australia in the semi-finals. If the @equipedefranceF win, I’ll support France. Deal? #GoMatildas
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 12, 2023
Australia knocked France out after an exciting 7-6 penalty shootout in the Australian city of Brisbane marking a historic victory for the co-hosts who reached the last four for the first time ever.
Macron replied after the sporting clash, "Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet ... Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!"
Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet… Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 12, 2023
Social media users who have been angered by both officials' tenures in office took the interaction on X as an opportunity to bash the heads of state.
I have a better bet
— Darrin Johns â“‚ (@canzyD01) August 12, 2023
The countries team that loses
That countries PM has to resign
While others criticized the "friendly" conversation as "cringe," urging the Australian PM to avoid tweeting for a week.
How about this instead:
— PoliBard (@PoliBard) August 12, 2023
"Regardless of the outcome of an arbitrarily chosen sporting event, the PM of Australia agrees to avoid cringe tweets for a week"
African users seized the opportunity to vehemently criticize France's intervention in West African affairs, a response that was triggered by the nation's fierce opposition to the ousting of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in late July.
I have no problem with it, just stay away from creating problems in West Africa
— Tonye Barcanista (@TonyeBarcanista) August 12, 2023
It is worth noting that earlier in 2022, Australia unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year.
The dispute originated after the liberal government at the time pulled out of a multi-billion dollar 10-year-old contract with France and opted instead for nuclear-powered British and American submarines.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in June 2022 that the French firm had agreed to a "fair and an equitable settlement" of 555 million euros ($584m) for Australia ending a 10-year-old multibillion-dollar submarine contract.
Read more: Australia beats France to reach Women's World Cup semi-final
