Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin has revealed that a feeling of "injustice" within the squad significantly motivated the team in their decisive World Cup match against the United States. The sentiment stemmed from the controversial suspension and subsequent overturning of a one-match ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun had been set to miss the last-16 clash after receiving a straight red card for standing on the ankle of an opponent in a previous game. However, the ban was suspended for 12 months by FIFA, a decision reportedly influenced by a call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino requesting a review.
Despite Balogun's reprieve, Belgium secured a dominant 4-1 victory. Raskin acknowledged the impact of the pre-match events on his team's performance. "A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," Raskin said after the match. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field."
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans echoed this sentiment, stating, "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did."
Following Belgium's fourth goal, several players mimicked a celebratory dance often associated with President Trump's public appearances. The Belgian FA further amplified the message by posting a photo of striker Romelu Lukaku with the caption "overturn this."
Belgium's head coach, Rudi Garcia, noted that Balogun had spoken with him after the final whistle. "I really liked that," Garcia commented. "It's not his fault. He's not the one to blame and that's what I told him. Regardless of the US starting line-up, what really mattered to us was our game plan. The group is very mature. I told them what matters the most is us."