BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Argentina’s march towards another FIFA World Cup title will face a stern test on Tuesday when the South Americans take on an increasingly confident Egypt side in a Round of 16 clash featuring two teams enjoying record unbeaten streaks.

The two-time world champions arrive in the knockout phase riding a ten-match unbeaten run at the World Cup, equalling their longest ever streak in the competition. With eight victories and two draws during that sequence, Argentina have once again underlined why they remain among the favourites to lift the trophy.

Yet Egypt have quietly built a record of their own.

The Pharaohs have gone four consecutive World Cup matches without defeat – the longest unbeaten stretch in their history at the finals – and have emerged as one of Africa’s surprise packages of the tournament.

Having progressed through a difficult path to reach the last 16, Egypt have displayed remarkable resilience, drawing three of their last four World Cup matches while securing a memorable victory to keep their campaign alive.

Argentina, however, possess a wealth of attacking talent and arrive buoyed by a dramatic 3-2 victory over fairytale debutants Cape Verde in the previous round. Their ability to combine experience with flair has made them one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides.

For Egypt, the challenge will be containing Argentina’s attacking threat while seeking opportunities on the counterattack. The North Africans have built their success on defensive discipline and tactical organisation, qualities they will need in abundance against one of football’s traditional giants.

With both nations carrying historic unbeaten runs into the contest, the stage is set for a fascinating encounter in which one remarkable sequence will inevitably come to an end.

The winners will advance to the quarter-finals, moving one step closer to World Cup glory, while the losers will see their impressive streak brought to a halt on football’s biggest stage.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The political drama that dominated the build-up could not save the United States from a footballing reality check as Belgium powered into the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-1 victory in Seattle on Monday.

While the spotlight before kick-off was firmly fixed on FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban following an intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, it was Belgium who ensured that the story ended in disappointment for the co-hosts.

Folarin Balogun of the U.S. looks dejected after Belgium’s Hans Vanaken scores their third goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen

Charles De Ketelaere struck twice as the Red Devils exposed American defensive frailties and silenced a packed Seattle Stadium, booking a quarter-final showdown with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.

Belgium wasted little time in taking control. Barely nine minutes had elapsed when De Ketelaere arrived unmarked to tap home Nicolas Raskin’s inviting cross after the U.S. defence failed to clear its lines.

The goal stunned the partisan crowd, many of whom were still settling into their seats and beginning their chants of “U-S-A” when Belgium struck.

The warning signs had been evident moments earlier when Timothy Castagne forced goalkeeper Matt Freese into a fingertip save, while Youri Tielemans squandered an excellent opportunity after a dazzling run by Dodi Lukebakio, who impressed in place of Jeremy Doku.

The Americans gradually recovered from their shaky start and found an equaliser in the 31st minute. Balogun, whose reinstatement had generated global headlines, won a free-kick in a dangerous position. Malik Tillman stepped up and his effort took a wicked deflection off the forehead of Hans Vanaken, wrong-footing Thibaut Courtois and finding the back of the net.

The equaliser briefly reignited hopes of another memorable American night.

But those hopes lasted barely a minute.

Belgium responded immediately as Leandro Trossard floated a cross into the penalty area and De Ketelaere outmuscled veteran defender Tim Ream before powering a header beyond Freese to restore his side’s advantage.

At 2-1, Belgium regained control and never looked back.

The United States emerged after the break with greater purpose and enjoyed their best spell of possession, but any chance of a comeback disappeared in spectacular fashion in the 57th minute.

Freese, attempting to play his way out from the back, hesitated disastrously outside his area. Vanaken pounced on the error and calmly rolled the ball into an unguarded net, leaving the goalkeeper and the home crowd in disbelief.

From that moment, the contest effectively slipped beyond the Americans.

Belgium managed the game expertly, frustrating the hosts while threatening on the counterattack. Balogun, so central to the pre-match controversy, struggled to influence proceedings and was largely contained by the Belgian defence.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Romelu Lukaku delivered the final blow. The veteran striker raced through and finished coolly to register his seventh World Cup goal and 93rd international goal for Belgium, sealing a comprehensive victory.

The fourth goal triggered an exodus from the stands as American supporters headed for the exits, their dreams of a deep World Cup run shattered.

For Belgium, the result sends them into the quarter-finals for the third time in the last four World Cups and keeps alive hopes of finally translating their golden generation’s promise into global glory.

For the United States, however, the tournament ends with a painful lesson. Not even the unprecedented intervention that returned Balogun to the team sheet could alter the outcome as Belgium’s ruthless efficiency brought the co-hosts’ World Cup adventure to an abrupt end.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Folarin Balogun plays the biggest game of his life on Monday, caught in a complex ​intersection of soccer, identity and U.S. politics, with an intervention from President Donald Trump helping propel him to the centre of one of the World Cup’s ‌biggest controversies.

Balogun was never supposed to feature in Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium, after earning a red card during the United States’ previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FIFA on Sunday stunningly said it would suspend the World Cup ban.

The twist carried a striking irony. Trump, who has repeatedly called for ending birthright citizenship, had publicly urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s case. Balogun acquired U.S. citizenship by birth after his ​Nigerian mother was unable to return home from a trip to New York because she was too far advanced in her pregnancy to fly. She took her newborn son ​back to Britain when he was one month old, where he would grow up before eventually choosing to represent the United States.

After initially competing ⁠for England at youth level, he opted to join the U.S. Soccer programme in 2023

Balogun’s origin story added another layer of interest to an already charmed World Cup turn, his career ​blossoming on sport’s biggest stage as U.S. Soccer sheds its decades-old image as an incubator for overwhelmingly white talent.

Supporters of birthright citizenship cheered on his performances at a time when citizenship, immigration and ​American identity have come to the fore in U.S. politics.

Balogun “prove(s) birthright citizenship isn’t a loophole — it’s America,” declared a headline from aMiami Herald, opens new tab editorial on Thursday.

“Mr. Balogun’s case is an extraordinary example of the good that is made available to us by things like birthright citizenship, giving people an opportunity that they would not have otherwise, to be their best and to contribute to the United States in ways that benefit all of ​us,” said Jorge Loweree, the managing director of programs at the American Immigration Council.

The United States is one of 33 countries, most of them in the Western Hemisphere, that allow unconditional birthright, ​after an 1898 Supreme Court ruling affirmed that the 14th Amendment allows for birthright citizenship.

‘EXTRAORDINARY TO WITNESS’

Christian Pulisic had been the charismatic front man for the United States team for years, a rare genuine celebrity ‌in the ⁠men’s game for a country so often ambivalent towards it.

But while “Captain America” Pulisic still has the most affection from sponsors, it was Balogun who became the United States’ breakout star, netting three goals to get fans dreaming of a deep run in the tournament.

A year and a half after Pulisic raised eyebrows with his “Trump dance” goal celebration, Balogun earned shoutouts from America’s biggest sports star, LeBron James, as he mimicked the NBA legend’s “Silencer” celebration on the pitch.

But the dream turned into a nightmare when he was shown a red card on Wednesday after a Video Assistant Referee review for ​planting his boot on the ankle of ​Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic, which appeared to ⁠be inadvertent.

Pulisic wrapped his arm around Balogun as the 25-year-old striker took the moment in stride. Days later, he pledged to put all his energy into supporting his teammates off the pitch in their clash with Belgium.

But less than a week after the Supreme Court handed Trump a stinging ​defeat in his central policy goal of ending birthright citizenship, the president dialled up FIFA boss Gianni Infantino in search of a reprieve.

“The timing and ​the development of the story ⁠has been extraordinary to witness,” said Loweree.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this year found that most Americans opposed ending birthright citizenship.

While Infantino confirmed that he had heard from Trump, he denied that the U.S. president had any impact on the suspension of the red card.

‘I’M AT HOME’

Balogun was raised in London and came up through the Arsenal academy, with England, Nigeria and the United States all possible landing spots for the ⁠prolific scorer.

“It ​feels like I’m at home here,” Balogun explained in U.S. Soccer’s announcement that he would play for the Stars ​and Stripes.

He said he made the decision with his family but was also swayed by a vacation to Orlando.

“I think that’s when I really saw the full force of the U.S. fans,” he said at the time. “It’s just something ​I’m really happy that I’ve decided to do.”

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H