Most of the world cheering for Belgium in World Cup: Craig Foster | ABC NEWS

Let's return now to the World Cup after a dramatic loss for the U .S.team against Belgium.Former Socceroog Craig Foster joins me now from Adelaide.Hi there Craig.Look any loss is tough but this one must be particularly brutal for the U .

S.given the red card controversy we saw over the weekend and being the last host nation standing.

I think that's right.Also, you know, because Trump had intervened and so on, there was huge pressure on this team.I don't think too many Australians will be crying tears about the fact that they've gone out and that Belgium were far, far the better team.In fact, it looked as though they froze a little bit, USA.They probably could have done without all the controversy from Trump over the last 24 hours.Definitely.

And in fact, Balogun, the player who ultimately was the source of so much controversy had easily his poorest game of the tournament, against a very good defense, I've got to say, but he didn't really look himself.So, the U .S.really froze in their big moment, which they've done many times before.You know, they've, I think only once, a very, very long time ago, back in 34 was when they went to quarterfinal or beyond, and they made the semifinal.So, since then, they've had seven of these round of 16s, and they've never got past them.

Whilst all of the rhetoric from the former American pundits about Australia and everyone else about how they're going to win, they never were going to win.Unfortunately, most of the world, including me, I have to say today, even though I like this US team, we were all cheering for Belgium because of what we've seen in the last 24 hours, the very improper overturning or suspension or delay of the red card, if you like.And in the end, actually, Belgium saved this World Cup, because had the US have actually won that game, there would have been serious questions asked.about every game hence, and the rest of the tournament would have been deeply tainted. SoSo there's no question to almost everyone around the world who often likes to see the U .S.

go down in these games where they're so overconfident.But in the end, football has been the winner today.There's no question about that.

Yeah, what sort of an impact do you think this whole red card controversy, Donald Trump intervening situation is going to have on this World Cup as a whole?Is this going to be the thing that people sort of remember once this tournament's over?

Yes, no question about it.As I say, we're very lucky as football fans.You know, it's people who love the game that actually U .S.did not win, because then there would have been very serious concerns about the actual integrity of the remainder of the tournament.Because if U .

S.went on and even lost in the next round, which they likely would have done, then questions would have been around, you know, whether Belgium would have won that game, you know, given the fact that Balogun should never have played today.That rule was set in stone.Trump was able to pick up the phone to Infantino.He was able to politically interfere in the actual on -field integrity of the rules themselves, which is quite extraordinary, unprecedented in modern times.So it is the best outcome for the game today.

There's no question about that.The better team won as well.Belgium have underperformed in big tournaments in recent years.They had one of the world's best squads.They were called the Golden Generation.And they've kind of that

They were nowhere near their capability.They froze, really, in the first half.And before they knew it, they were already 2 -0 down.But actually, what it very clearly did was gave ultra motivation to Belgium, because they've been so slow in starting the games in this tournament.It's been awful to watch their first halves.And then late in the game, they've had to come from behind.

And Lukaku has come on and other high -class players.But what they did today is they came out at a very high speed and they were hugely motivated.We haven't seen a Belgian team this motivated for many, many years.It was clear.Rudy Garcia, the coach's comments, they were very struck.They were hurt.

by what Trump had done, which effectively is sporting corruption.It was cheating, basically, political interference.So all of us were very upset about it.And they came out, Belgium, with most of the world cheering them on.And what a performance they put on.They got themselves in front.

And USA were never, ever getting back in the game.And in the end, Lukaku has come on and once again scored, put it beyond doubt, put it well beyond the USA.a And, you know, others, Spain, they know that every team now is a real threat.Look at Cabo Verde.I mean, this is the ridiculous nature of this U .S.

campaign.You know, they came in, they performed with a certain level of arrogance off the field anyway.And in the end, they've gone out.And the game, speaking honestly, is all the better for it.