Mauricio Pochettino has spoken out about the USA's World Cup exit after a disappointing day in Seattle saw the team comfortably beaten by Belgium in the round of 16.
Pochettino Refuses to Blame Balogun Suspension
The former Tottenham manager refused to allow the Folarin Balogun suspension saga to be used as an excuse for the defeat. When asked if the controversy may have distracted his team, Pochettino said: "FIFA and all the different people involved explained, and those are the rules. It was a clear explanation, so I have no comment on that."
This follows reports that President Trump admitted to calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's red card, but Pochettino dismissed any notion that this affected his squad's performance.
Match Details and Impact
The USA were eliminated from the tournament after a comprehensive loss to Belgium, ending their World Cup run in the round of 16. Pochettino's side struggled to contain the Belgian attack, and the absence of key striker Balogun was felt, though the coach refused to use it as a crutch.
