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
The countries team that loses
That countries PM has to resign

— Darrin Johns Ⓜ (@canzyD01) August 12, 2023

While others criticized the "friendly" conversation as "cringe," urging the Australian PM to avoid tweeting for a week.

How about this instead:

"Regardless of the outcome of an arbitrarily chosen sporting event, the PM of Australia agrees to avoid cringe tweets for a week"

— PoliBard (@PoliBard) August 12, 2023

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