Head coach Mauricio Pochettino launched an impassioned defense of the controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban, thereby allowing the USA forward to play against Belgium in the round of 16 Monday.
“If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. No, no. There’s no extraordinary gain we’re getting out of all this. I mean, ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”
More from @tombogert: https://t.co/Hvpj87vVq9
Mauricio Pochettino on Folarin Balogun suspension decision, via @tombogert:
"We were punished enough against Bosnia to play with 10 men for 30 minutes, in a decision that was unfair ... It’s not because I’m the head coach of the USA… I think 99.9% of people agree it was an unfair red card."
BREAKING: Five-Star IOL Ismael Camara has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @Rivals
The 6’6 345 IOL chose the Longhorns over Oregon, SMU, and LSU
“I’m from Gilmer, TX it’s in my blood. HOOK’EM🤘🏾‼️”
https://t.co/swS3V4gIqf
This might be the first time in my lifetime I have heard of a program being scared to play someone whom they beat by literally 50 points the last time they met.