Belgium crush USA 4–1 as Balogun storm ends in a quarter-final

Belgium 4–1 USA, your team is into the quarter-finals

Belgium dismantled the United States 4–1 in the round of 32 Monday, booking a quarter-final against Spain on Friday 10 July (1) (2) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18). The performance drew global praise, with international media calling it efficient and clinical (7) (17). Your team now face Lamine Yamal and Spain at 21:00 on Friday (3).

Balogun controversy fired the squad up

The match was played in a storm. Folarin Balogun was suspended after a late intervention, widely reported as coming from Donald Trump, who contacted FIFA to have the US striker's red card overturned so he could play (1) (2) (5) (8) (9). The appeal failed. Nicolas Raskin did not hide what it did to the team: "Overturn this. That fired us up" (5).

Lukaku hit the Trump dance, and the world noticed

Romelu Lukaku celebrated the final goal with the Trump dance, a gesture aimed directly at the former US president (6) (8) (9) (13). The image went everywhere. Belgian players joined in, and the international press ran with it: "Who are you going to call now, Donald?" one outlet wrote (1). Courtois kept it simple afterwards: "Senegal are better" (15).

Garcia was still deciding the lineup on match morning

Rudi Garcia admitted he did not know his starting eleven on the morning of the game (4). "I was not sure of my lineup this morning," he said. After the final whistle, Balogun came to him directly. Garcia confirmed it: "Balogun came to me after the match" (10). No hard feelings, apparently.

Spain await on Friday

The quarter-final is set. Belgium face Spain on Friday 10 July at 21:00 (3). Lamine Yamal is the name on everyone's mind. After a round of 32 that felt like catharsis, your team go into it with momentum and a chip on the shoulder.