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From the difficulty of “dropping” the result to a celebration that looks like the dance of the president of the team that received it, the World Cup dream of the United States did not stop at the last 16 match against Belgium but also became the center of social media jokes following the events of the previous day.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice to give Belgium a 4-1 win covered by FIFA controversial decision suspending the ban of American player Folarin Balogun. The actions of the US President Donald Trump that led to the overthrow of the terrorist put the team and the players in the spotlight.
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De Ketelaere gave Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a low tap-in from Hans Vanaken before punishing the goalkeeper, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to end the last 16 clash on Monday.
As soon as Lukaku put the result beyond doubt, he joined his fellow dancers in a celebration that seemed familiar to audiences around the world. Social media users were quick to link President Trump’s dancing.
Balogun, who was appointed as United States coach Mauricio Pochettino after FIFA suspended his one-game ban, was not identified during Monday’s game in Seattle.
Instead, a dominant Belgium ruthlessly thwarted the USA’s hopes of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 24 years, in a disappointing end to a campaign that impressed the host nation.
FIFA objection and the tie with Belgium had already begun before Monday’s game, but the disappointing performance of the USA produced new moisture while the game was still on.
The Belgian Red Devils shared the slur “Turning this around” minutes after the match, including mocking the USA for calling the game “soccer” rather than soccer.
Social media users criticized the poor performance of the USA from all sides; some joked that this was the team’s first time playing a game, while others said it was more embarrassing than the last 48 hours. Balogun had a poor performance which saw him sent off in the 92nd minute.
It was so ironic – or, perhaps not – that social media users warned that Trump could overturn Belgium’s 4-1 victory if he wanted to.
‘FIFA mafia’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was in attendance at the match, watching alongside Pascale Van Damme, chairman of the Belgian Football Association, and Cindy Parlow Cone, USSF President.
Belgium fans sang “FIFA Mafia” on their way to Lumen Field.
People were quick to say that when The Iranian team is seeking US visasor when Somali judge Omar Artan was he was denied a US visaor where Haiti was forced to change his jersey In the last minute of the battle scenes, Infantino shrugged his shoulders and removed any power to solve the problem.
“We always try to find answers – always,” Infantino said at a press conference on the night of the tournament.
“But then we have to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can control the governments and the police and I don’t know what it is.
He fueled the fire at the press conference by adding: “We do not control anything.”
Trump’s granddaughter, Mary Lea Trump – who has accused him of his controversies and is one of his staunchest critics – called for intervention in the matter.
He wrote: “He casts a shadow over everything.”
‘Do our talk on the pitch’
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said Balogun’s anger inspired his teammates.
“Let’s be honest: We held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said.
“We told ourselves that we have to speak on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of this team,” the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
Belgium midfielder, Nicolas Raskin, said his team’s win seemed fair after FIFA’s decision on Balogun.
“Like I said, I think there’s always justice somewhere in life, and that something can happen like this, you can put all the blame you want on it, but we don’t think it was fair,” Raskin told reporters.
“And today, I think it just gave us a little bit of luck. We needed to win the game with the whole message.”
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia downplayed the controversy in his press conference when asked if it motivated his players.
“No, it was not important or necessary… What is important for us is our game plan,” he said, adding that he spoke to Balogun after the final whistle.
He said: “He came to talk to me, I really like that. “It’s not his fault, he’s not guilty and that’s what I told him.”
Belgium will face Spain in Los Angeles on Friday for a place in the semifinals.
