Belgium boosted by Balogun furore: Tielemans

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans revealed his team had been fired up by the uproar surrounding Folarin Balogun after the Red Devils thrashed the United States 4-1 at the World Cup on Monday.

Tielemans said Belgium's players had held a team meeting after Balogun's shock FIFA reprieve and had vowed to make a statement against the World Cup co-hosts.

"Let's be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news," Tielemans said of the Balogun controversy. 

"We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That's what we did today. I'm very proud of the team," the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium's RTBF broadcaster.

Balogun was named in the United States line-up on Monday after FIFA suspended his one-match ban for a sending off in the last 32, but he made little impact in the match.

The shock FIFA decision came after an intervention by US President Donald Trump in a decision which drew condemnation across the football world.

Tielemans' teammates echoed their captain's words.

"There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field," said Nicolas Raskin.

Dodi Lukebakio said the Belgian team "didn't understand really why he was allowed to play, because he got the red card," but said they had been focused on performing.

"That's what we did today. So we are very happy, very proud, and what is all around us is not our problem." 

- 'Not his fault' -

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had been among the outspoken critics of FIFA's decision, telling reporters before the game that the ruling seemed like a prank from "April Fool's Day."

But he struck a more conciliatory note in his post-game press conference, insisting that extra motivation from the Balogun affair "wasn't needed or necessary."

"We told (our players) about what was happening. The group is very mature. We have leaders to help us go through that. I told them that mattered the most was us," he said.

Garcia also expressed his appreciation that Balogun had made an effort to speak with him directly after the game.

"He came to talk to me. I really like that. It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame, and that's what I told him," said Garcia.

"I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me."

Overshadowed by the controversy, Monday's game turned out to be a one-sided affair, with the US rarely threatening Belgium other than a deflected Malik Tillman free kick.

But Garcia praised his vanquished opponents for "a great World Cup, regardless of this last game."

"What really mattered to us is our game plan... The US team is dynamic and full of energy," said the coach.

"We played with real grit," added Tielemans. "We wanted to get off to a good start -- something we’d been missing earlier in the tournament. 

"We knew that if we put them under pressure, they'd make mistakes."

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© Agence France-Presse