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Belgium emphatically crushed hosts USA 4-1, securing a monumental quarter-final clash against Spain at the World Cup. The major controversy surrounding the overturned suspension of American forward Folarin Balogun was a central talking point before the match, but after the final whistle, Belgian players openly admitted it acted as a catalyst for their resounding triumph. "Red Devils" midfielder Youri Tielemans revealed to the media in his homeland that the Americans' off-field maneuvers were a huge mistake. He was completely candid about the dressing room's reaction to FIFA's unprecedented amnesty.
“Let's be honest: we had a team meeting as soon as we heard the news about Balogun. We told ourselves that our response had to be delivered solely on the pitch. It’s always dangerous to create such controversies on the eve of such a big game,” Tielemans began.
The midfielder added that the pressure surrounding the hosts ultimately backfired on them, while the Belgians remained composed.
“Not only did it motivate us further, but it seemed to become a huge distraction for the US team themselves. We just got on with our job,” the midfielder concluded.
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