{"id":2361,"date":"2026-07-07T14:38:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T14:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2026-07-07T14:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T14:38:40","slug":"from-the-sports-desk-belgium-demolishes-the-u-s-4-1-and-then-trolls-it-afterward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2361","title":{"rendered":"From The Sports Desk: Belgium demolishes the U.S. 4-1, and then trolls it afterward"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The United States\u2019 World Cup campaign was brought to a screeching halt in Seattle last night by a Belgian team that played as if it had extra motivation after the <\/em>Folarin Balogun<\/strong><\/em> affair. The Red Devils, angered by FIFA\u2019s decision to reinstate the U.S. striker after he received a red card in the previous round, delighted in trolling their hosts during and after the match.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Today, we\u2019ll find out which final two teams make the quarterfinals. Will <\/em>Lionel Messi<\/strong><\/em> have another indelible performance? Our NBC News team is <\/em>live-blogging the games.<\/em> Don\u2019t miss out! <\/em><\/p>\n

World Cup Recap<\/h2>\n

The U.S. kicked off its round of 16 match against Belgium in high spirits, boosted by the return of its top goal scorer at the tournament in Balogun. But the 4-1 defeat that followed was a brutal reminder that it is still playing catch-up against the world\u2019s elite teams.<\/p>\n

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In truth, the U.S. spurned a golden opportunity to reach its first quarterfinals since the Landon Donovan<\/strong> team of 2002, facing a Belgian side that had struggled in the tournament so far and that had left three headline players \u2014 Kevin De Bruyne<\/strong>, Jeremy Doku<\/strong> and Romelu Lukaku<\/strong> \u2014 on the bench to start the game.<\/p>\n

Where was the verve from the previous matches? The U.S. played like it was weighed down by the controversy over the suspension of Balogun\u2019s red card. Belgium\u2019s Charles De Ketelaere<\/strong> scored twice and assisted on another goal as the U.S. defense crumbled. Goalkeeper Matt Freese<\/strong> had a game to forget. <\/p>\n

Malik Tillman<\/strong> did score to make it 1-1 in the first half, but the Americans conceded a goal shortly after that. Hans Vanaken<\/strong> made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after Freese lost control of the ball. Lukaku came off the bench and scored in stoppage time. It was his 93rd international goal, and he became the first player to score as a substitute in four different World Cup matches.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we were not the same team in the tournament that showed our quality,\u201d coach Mauricio Pochettino<\/strong> said after the match. For the U.S., it goes out again in the round of 16, a disappointing end to a tournament that started with such promise.<\/p>\n

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The Belgian team reveled in its success. \u201cOverturn this,\u201d it posted on social media, alongside images of Lukaku\u2019s goal, cupping his ear to the Seattle crowd. During the match, Lukaku led his teammates in a group imitation of President Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s trademark \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d dance.<\/p>\n

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The Red Devils play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, and Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong> confirmed he has played his last World Cup match. He retires without a World Cup title or a World Cup final appearance to his name. Spain\u2019s goalkeeper Unai Simon<\/strong> reached 519 minutes without conceding at the World Cup, breaking the record of Italy\u2019s Walter Zenga<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

World Cup Preview<\/h2>\n

The last two round of 16 games are today, including Switzerland against Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Lionel Messi<\/strong>\u2019s Argentina and Mohamed Salah<\/strong>\u2019s Egypt squaring off in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

The Pharaohs earned their first World Cup victory by beating New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage. They got their first knockout stage win by beating Australia on penalties.<\/p>\n

Messi has scored seven goals in the tournament, the same as Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> and Erling Haaland<\/strong>, in the race for the Golden Boot. Messi has also scored in a record eight straight World Cup matches, dating back to Argentina\u2019s 2022 title run.<\/p>\n

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Despite playing against Argentina, the defending champs, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan<\/strong> said: \u201cWe\u2019re no underdogs. We\u2019re big in every respect. We are a civilization that is 7,000 years old, even more than 7,000 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

What We\u2019re Watching<\/h2>\n

World Cup! All the games are on Telemundo and Peacock, and all times are Eastern:<\/p>\n

Read more U.S. exits the World Cup and Trump meets with NATO leaders: Morning Rundown<\/a><\/p>\n