4d
4d
DANIEL MATTHEWS IN SEATTLE: It turns out Donald Trump was worried about the wrong striker. In an extraordinary intervention that cast a long shadow over the biggest game in
US soccer history‚ the president had lobbied
FIFA boss
Gianni Infantino to allow the suspended
Folarin Balogun to face
Belgium. How much influence that call had‚ we may never know. In the end‚ though‚ it made little difference. Because‚ even though
Balogun was controversially cleared to play‚ it was
Belgian striker
Charles De Ketelaere who decided this
World Cup showdown. The 25-year-old scored two goals and helped create another as
Belgium broke
American hearts and shattered the co-hosts'
World Cup dreams in the round of 16.
De Ketelaere was given a huge helping hand by
Mauricio Pochettino's players who‚ after weeks of promise and brilliance‚ put in a calamitous display.
Balogun drew a blank before
Romelu Lukaku profited from a final defensive lapse to seal a 4-1 win. What a dismal end to a magical few weeks. Good luck overturning this one‚ Mr President.