From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer
On 2026-07-08 11:28, FF wrote:
Jesus Petry wrote:
FT USA 1-4 BEL
[Tillman - De Ketelaere (2), Vanaken, Lukaku]
Belgians came in full force to avenge for the Balogun affair and
demolished the hosts.
Tchau!
Jesus Petry
Justice.
The bad part, now everything will be forgotten and Infantino probably
gets away with it. Still better than if the US had won this way.
The USA were a bit overhyped, it turns out. A bit like England! The difference being you can argue Kane, Rice and Bellingham are world class players, or near enough, whereas nobody on the US roster is even close.
And using kicker's criteria, one could argue for Saka, Anderson, Guehi
and Konsa, and perhaps even Pickford, being "Internationale Klasse" or thereabouts. FOr the USA, if fully fit, only Pulisic and McKennie
approach even that level.
Notwithstanding Belgium's slow start in this tournament and the concerns
over the fitness of Lukaku and De Bruyne, it beats me why anyone would
have considered the USA favourites in that meeting. I know, it is easy
to be wise after the fact, but I don't think the USA has anyone as good,
in their positions, as Courtois, Doku (in spite of recent poor form), Trossard, and Tielemans.
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