5 Things we learned from Belgium’s stunning win over the USA

1. Didn’t see that one coming. I think it’s safe to say that Belgium took Balogun’s red card getting suspended personally and swept the USA aside with ease today, they came flying out of the blocks early and took the lead in the 9th minute as Raskin played a brilliant ball across the box where De Ketalaere was waiting to put Belgium 1-0 up. Belgium continued to look the better team even after Amadou Onana went off with what looked like an ACL injury but it was the USA who struck back in the 31st minute as Malik Tillman’s free-kick took a deflection which wrongfooted Courtois in the Belgium goal to get the USA back on level terms, not even two minutes after the equaliser Belgium regained the lead as Leandro Trossard floated a brilliant cross to the back-post where De Ketalaere was waiting yet again and this time headed Belgium back in front right after the USA had equalised. As the USA looked for a a way back into the game in the second half the goalkeeper Matt Freese came out of his box trying to sweep but was tackled by De Ketalaere with the ball falling to Vanaken who curled the ball past Ream into an empty net to put Belgium 3-1 up in the 57th minute, Belgium then managed to add another just before the final whistle as Chris Richards was caught on the ball by Vanaken who gave it to Lukaku who then curled the ball low past Freeman in the box to put some gloss on the score-line for Belgium who move onto the quarter-finals.

2. That’s the Belgium we’ve wanted to see. I must admit when I saw the Belgium team before kick-off I was a bit underwhelmed, having Lukaku, Doku and De Bruyne on the bench raised a few eyebrows but I guess something had to change after that Senegal game where Belgium where outplayed for the majority of the tie. Belgium played with a tempo and vigour we haven’t seen all tournament which clearly took the USA by surprise in the first half where the Red Devils dominated the game, I’ve been waiting for De Ketalaere to show up in one of these games after putting him as my player to watch in the previews for Belgium and we finally saw him at the top of is game today tearing that USA defence apart which in fairness was all over the place. The one negative for Belgium is the injury to Amadou Onana which looked like an ACL but I’m not a medical expert so don’t take that as verbatim, Hans Vanaken came on and was superb in that midfield grabbing a goal and assist so hopefully for Belgium’s sake he can fill in that position in the next round. Overall a terrific performance from Belgium which sees them through to the quarter-finals, who saw that coming?

3. A great chance missed for the USA. The USA had a great opportunity today to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup for only the second time in their history, up against a Belgium side who haven’t pulled up any trees in this tournament so far but they just didn’t turn up. The first part you’d look at is defensively where the USA where just appalling today in particular the centre-backs and goalkeeper who gave away some stupid goals which were so preventable, the third goal just killed the USA and was so poor from Freeman in goal along with Ream on the line who seemed to jump out of the way as the ball headed towards him on the line. It was just so disconnected all over the pitch which was so unlike the USA we’ve seen so far in this World Cup, even in attack they were miles off it which you can understand from Balogun as he didn’t even know he was playing until yesterday but you look at Christian Pulisic who’s been poor all tournament and when his country needs him he disappears then goes off injured in the 60th minute. In tournament football one off day leads to your elimination and I think that’s what happened to the USA today, a shame considering they were looking so good up to this game. Where do the USA go from here?

4. How much of an impact did the noise around Balogun’s red card have on the USA? I suppose we’ll never know but the all controversy surrounding Balogun’s red card getting suspended had to have played a part in why the USA where so poor today, the funny thing is that had a panel at FIFA overturned the red card because they deemed the decision incorrect then none of this controversy would have happened but the fact that the White House contacted FIFA to try and get the red card suspended just puts a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and clearly put extra energy into the Belgians today who had a point to prove. The whole red cards getting suspended thing is just ridiculous and was also why Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to play in the group stages after getting a straight red card against Ireland in the qualifiers, it put a huge amount of pressure on Balogun today which clearly impacted his performance from a decision he couldn’t even control. Maybe it’s better to leave football to the people who know about Mr Trump, you just cost your country a shot at the quarter-finals.

5. Who do Belgium play in the quarter-finals? Up next for Belgium will be Spain in the quarter-finals who edged Portugal earlier on and I’m sure must have been surprised by how easily Belgium swept the USA aside today, Spain will go into that game as favourites but if Belgium can replicate their performance today in that game then they have every chance of going through. Who do you think is going through on Friday? I have Spain but there’s every chance Belgium can just switch it on again, should be good game nonetheless.