I hereby welcome US national team manager Mauricio Pochettino back to Europe, something he has received several offers to do.
The USA has a perfectly decent team, which has had an easy road to the round of eight. – There they met “Belgium red devis” which until yesterday I was sure was called “Belgium red waffles”
Arne Slot turns down Premier League club – is now in talks about the “big” job
The United States crashed out of their own World Cup in the last eight after a comfortable 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle. Folarin Balogun, who was at the center of one of the tournament’s biggest controversies, became completely invisible.
On our Live service you can see statistics from the match.
Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, but FIFA suspended the automatic quarantine – and US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review. Infantino insisted that the decision was made autonomously by FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee, but the reactions have hailed from all over the football world.
The Belgian Football Association called the decision “astonishing” and appealed – without success. Belgium played with a sense of injustice, and they dominated from the start.
The irony for those who follow American politics (tiresomely) is that Folarin Balogun (who is also English) can only play for the United States because of “birthright citizenship” which Donald Trump is actively trying to overturn before the Supreme Court.
Belgium took control – and the USA collapsed
Despite coach Rudi García allowing Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku to start on the bench, Belgium were superior. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice – before Malik Tillman equalized for the USA in the 31st minute.
But the joy lasted only two minutes. De Ketelaere headed Belgium back into the lead – and then the United States collapsed completely.
A cruel mistake by goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to make it 3-1, before Romelu Lukaku took advantage of another defensive blunder to make it 4-1.
The United States has a long way to go before they are close to being the best in the world. – MLS must stop being “Pay for Play” and create a league system where you can move up and down and they must stop being a series where stars go to retire.
Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals after they sent Portugal home in a somewhat lengthy match.
Roberto Martínez resigns: “It doesn’t make sense to continue”
Pochettino’s future in uncertainty
The U.S. missed the chance to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. Now the focus is on Mauricio Pochettino, who has been linked with a return to club football – and there is a possibility that the match against Belgium was his last as USA national team manager.
For the host nation, it was the end of a turbulent day – and a tournament that started with high hopes ended in disappointment, humiliation and political drama.
Belgium advances to the quarter-finals against Spain – deservedly. The United States goes home with questions about everything from Balogun to Pochettino – and with an aftermath that will last a long time.
“Infantino must resign! Jeff Stelling rages against the FIFA scandal
