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Belgium: Who's Still Making Phone Calls?

On matchday of the "Iberian Derby," the game between Belgium and the United States didn't originally attract much attention from fans.

But unfortunately, too much drama was added before the match.

A red card, a FIFA president, and a head of state turned this match into a joke before it even started.

That head of state claimed to "know sports very well," saying that the action for which American player Balogun received a red card was "not even a foul," "not even a violation."

He publicly stated that he couldn't understand why a player who gets a red card on the field also has to be suspended for the next game. "Being sent off on the spot is already the punishment."

Thus, in the Round of 16 of the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, Balogun, who had received a red card, stood on the pitch against Belgium as a starter.

That head of state might really "know sports," but he certainly doesn't know the Belgian team. It's a team that, even without outside interference, can fight among themselves.

And precisely for that reason, when they unite against a common enemy, a team like the US is not even worth a look.

An Ultimate Stress Test

The series of off-field events before the match placed a huge psychological burden on both Belgium and the US. This was a match neither side felt they could afford to lose.

The US team's mentality: We've already gotten an advantage, and if we still can't win, it would be too embarrassing.

The Belgian team's mentality: We've been wronged, and we must win this match fair and square to prove them wrong.

Given the gap in strength between the two sides, Belgium, with their focused attention, quickly gained the upper hand. They took the lead in the 9th minute.

Although the US equalized through a free kick, Belgium soon regained the lead with a counterattack and a cross from the wing.

As for the US team, their previous tactics of high pressing and quick transitions proved ineffective against a united Belgian defense.

Moreover, the intense nerves forced the US team to make all sorts of absurd mistakes. Captain Ream, the defender, was out of position multiple times, causing constant danger in front of the US goal.

Early in the second half, a low-level mistake by the US goalkeeper, with Ream again the last man, provided a disastrous defensive showing, watching the ball slide into the net.

After star player Pulisic left the field injured, the US team completely lost control of the game.

After taking a 3-1 lead, Belgium didn't think about how to secure the victory; instead, they continued to send attacking players onto the field. This approach was very clear: they wanted to beat the opponent convincingly.

With Lukaku's stoppage-time goal, the final score settled at 4-1.

The US team could have left this World Cup with their heads held high, but instead, they ended the battle in a very undignified manner.

Some fans might ask, what about Balogun, the American player who initially got a red card but later played?

His pressure was perhaps greater than everyone else combined, and his shots showed a lack of confidence. After all, football is a sport of 11 players; even the best player can hardly determine the outcome of a match on their own.

Moreover, he is just Balogun.

An Unprecedentedly United Belgium

Reflecting after the match, without these pre-game events, it would be hard to say whether Belgium could have won so smoothly.

Within the Belgian team, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois, and others are getting older; Doku and Trossard have inconsistent form; the defensive line is plagued by injuries; and the team lacks clear tactical ideas.

Not only that, but a low desire to win has always been a problem for Belgium.

Often in major tournaments, the players start with different ideas as the game goes on, with all 11 on the field having different thoughts, leading to frequent internal conflicts. Almost every Belgian head coach understands that player talent is not the problem; the real challenge is how to manage these individuals.

But this time, the "Balogun red card" incident came at the perfect time, precisely when Belgium might have started to slack off.

As the saying goes, just when you're about to doze off, a pillow arrives.

This pre-game blow created an "unprecedentedly united" Belgian team. Every player fought bravely, vying for glory, and there were no internal issues at all.

Even the previously sluggish forward, the handsome De Ketelaere, scored two goals in a burst of anger.

This was truly hard for the US to bear. They thought they had gotten a great deal, but instead, they unleashed a "complete" Belgian team.

What awaited the US was nothing but a collapse.