SEATTLE — After a dream start to the World Cup they are co-hosting, the United States are one win away from their first quarterfinal appearance since 2002.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll have the added benefit of being able to play star forward Folarin Balogun on Monday in the round of 16 against Belgium after FIFA made the unexpected move of overturning his automatic red-card suspension Sunday.<\/p>\n
After Belgium\u2019s football federation released a lengthy statement decrying FIFA\u2019s decision, which concluded with a promise to investigate \u201call potential options,\u201d national team coach Rudi Garcia said at a press conference that the integrity of the game was top of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the fifth of July is now first April and that it\u2019s April Fool\u2019s Day. It is news to me,\u201d Garcia said via a translation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a head coach, I will focus on my team on tomorrow\u2019s game regardless of the 11 starting players from the U.S. I will focus on my team, the pitch tomorrow and for us to get the victory so we can reach the quarterfinals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Garcia and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said nothing changes in Belgium\u2019s gameplan in reaction to the Balogun decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, it was the day prior to the game so that was a bit of a surprise,\u201d Courtois said via a translation. \u201cHad it been done earlier we would have been able to be more mentally prepared, perhaps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have 11 players too. There\u2019s not only Balogun. We just have to play on the pitch, be on the pitch and do what we do, play football and try and win this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balogun scored the first goal of the Americans\u2019 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, but he was sent off in the 64th minute after a VAR review led to his red card — the protocols for which were misapplied. Referees were not supposed to use slow-motion replays and stills to judge the severity of his contact with Tarik Muharemovic.<\/p>\n
A team cannot appeal a red card to FIFA, but on Sunday the governing body cited article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says \u201cthe judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balogun is now considered on probation for one year. The suspension of discipline would be revoked if he \u201ccommits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The USMNT was preparing to face Belgium without its leading goal-scorer of the tournament (three). Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who confirmed that U.S. Soccer pleaded its case to FIFA, concentrated on the argument that Balogun\u2019s red card was wrongly applied in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were punished enough against Bosnia to play with 10 men for 30 minutes, in a decision that was unfair,\u201d Pochettino said. \u201cIt\u2019s not because I\u2019m the head coach of the USA. … I think 99.9% of people agree it was an unfair red card.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amid the potential distraction and the joys of playing well at a home World Cup, the Americans must be ready for a top-flight goalkeeper in Courtois and a balanced Belgium attack. Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard have two goals apiece to pace the team, while five different players have contributed one assist.<\/p>\n
After pushing through the group stage in underwhelming fashion (two draws, then a win over New Zealand), Belgium fell behind 2-0 to Senegal, one of Africa\u2019s best teams. But Lukaku and Tielemans broke through Senegal\u2019s defense in the 86th and 89th minutes to force extra time, Tielemans drew a penalty at the 120+5 mark and he completed the improbable comeback by converting from the spot.<\/p>\n
Belgium understand that, with or without Balogun, the U.S. will be a dangerous opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always prepare for all the possible strikers,\u201d Courtois said. \u201cI think (Balogun) is a very fast striker. Obviously a different profile than maybe (Ricardo) Pepi, but I think they are all good strikers. Also with (Sergino) Dest playing on the right wing, (Christian) Pulisic can play there. A lot of quality up front. They arrive well in the box. They create a lot of 1-v-1\u2019s with the goalkeeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll also be up against a partisan crowd in a soccer-crazed part of the country, at a stadium that seats roughly 67,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very fortunate to have such amazing support as we\u2019ve had. Specifically Seattle has been unbelievable in hosting us,\u201d midfielder Tyler Adams said at training this weekend. \u201cSo it\u2019s exciting to come back to a place that feels familiar, that obviously we had the win over Australia, to know that we can expect that same energy again in the biggest moment in our careers is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
–Field Level Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SEATTLE — After a dream start to the World Cup they are co-hosting, the United States are one win away from their first quarterfinal appearance since 2002. They\u2019ll have the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":480918,"template":"","news_cat":[4387,4383,4396,33],"class_list":["post-480917","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news_cat-preview","news_cat-story","news_cat-top-story","news_cat-world-cup"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n