Belgium Beat USA World Cup Dream, Set Up Spain Clash

Belgium vs USA – (Web Desk) – Belgium beat USA World Cup hosts 4-1 on Monday, crushing the co-hosts’ dream run and setting up a quarter-final date with Spain. The result ended the USA’s best chance in decades to reach the final eight.

Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium. Hans Vanaken added a third after a bad mistake by the USA goalkeeper. Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored a fourth goal late in the game to seal the win.

The match came right after a big row over US striker Folarin Balogun. Fifa had lifted his one-game ban just a day earlier, after pressure from US officials. But Balogun barely made an impact on the pitch.

Belgium’s captain, Youri Tielemans, said the team held a meeting after hearing about the ban being lifted. He said the players felt it was unfair, so they decided to answer with their performance on the field instead of words.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted his team simply didn’t show up. He said it was a poor day for the squad, both as a team and as individuals.

Belgium took the lead early through De Ketelaere. The USA fought back with a deflected free kick from Malik Tillman that leveled the score. But De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead soon after with a header.

Things got worse for the USA when their goalkeeper, Matt Freese, made a costly error trying to clear the ball outside his box. Vanaken punished the mistake to make it 3-1. Lukaku then wrapped up the win in stoppage time.

Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles this Friday.

In the other big match of the night, Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in a tense clash that marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey. Substitute Mikel Merino scored the winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, could not find his best form throughout the tournament. Portugal managed just two shots on target in the entire match, while Spain had six.

After the game, Ronaldo said it was likely his final World Cup, but that he would take time before making any decisions about his future. He said football always has ups and downs, and that life goes on either way.

Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, praised his team’s performance, calling it a complete display under pressure in what felt like an early final.