USA march on but will Balogun red card prove costly?

It is the question which coach Mauricio Pochettino posed back in March, when discussing the United States' chances of lifting a first World Cup on home soil on 19 July.

>It has become something of a battle cry for his squad during the tournament and even appears on a motivational poster in his office.

>However, 21 days into the competition, and with four of the potential eight matches on the road to footballing immortality negotiated, we are still unable to answer it.

>Wednesday's win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium was thoroughly deserved and earned Pochettino's side a date with Belgium in Seattle on Monday evening (01:00 BST on Tuesday).

>Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old former Arsenal youngster, who inspired the US to a thumping win over Paraguay with two goals to begin their campaign, added his third of the tournament to break the deadlock shortly before half-time.

>He might have had a hat-trick, firing one effort wide of the near post, seeing an effort ruled out for offside and slicing a shot onto the bar from close range, but just after the hour mark his night, and potentially his World Cup was ended.

>What looked an innocuous tussle with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic for a looping ball down the left channel ended with the forward being shown a straight red card.

>As Balogun attempted to shield the ball, Muharemovic managed to get in front of him, and as the forward's boot returned to the ground it landed on the back of the Bosnian's ankle, causing it to twist gruesomely.

>In real time, and in all likelihood in reality, it looked entirely accidental, but Brazilian referee Raphael Claus was sent to the monitor to watch a super slow-motion replay, which gave him little choice but to brandish the red card.

>It etched Balogun's name further into the record books.

>On the night when he became just the third American to score three goals in a World Cup edition, he also became the fourth player to both score and be sent off in a knockout match, following Brazil's Garrincha in the 1962 semi-final, his compatriot Ronaldinho in the 2002 quarter-final against England, and France's Zinedine Zidane in the infamous 2006 final against Italy.

>The sending-off brings an immediate one-game ban, ruling him out of the Belgium match, but it could yet be extended by Fifa officials to potentially rule him out of the quarter-final and semi-final, should the Americans make it.

>Long-time Fulham target Ricardo Pepi is the man most likely to fill Balogun's boots , though he has not scored in his 184 minutes on the pitch at this tournament, nor in the four friendly games before it.

>The PSV man's last international goal came in a Nations League game in November 2024.

>Crystal Palace and US defender Chris Richards said the players were supporting Balogun.

>"We told him we have got his back," he said. "We are a team of 26, not just one.

>"Ultimately we are going to miss him for the next game but we know whoever is going to step up is going to do a job just as well as he did.

>"I think it'll keep us stronger. One man is down, the next guy steps up. We are a team, we are more than just one player, we are more than just 11 players."

>Pochettino added: "When Balogun received the red card, I thought that is the moment we need to show we are a team and the eyes of the players were [saying], 'Coach, we are ready to go and fight' and that is amazing.

>"These guys are creating a legacy in this country and with our amazing fans everything is possible. Why not us?"

>Folarin Balogun had scored three goals in three games for the US, but may not get another opportunity

>Former England forward Sue Smith thinks the red card galvanised the US and they showcased a side which gives them a good chance against Belgium.

>"Once Balogun got sent off, we then saw a real professional side from the USA," she said on BBC One.

>"Defensively they were in good shape, Bosnia threw everything at them but couldn't quite find that finishing touch. It was a deserved win for the USA.

>"I think they have probably surprised people in how they've played and where they've got to so far. They're certainly going to give Belgium a test.

>"Pochettino says 'believe'. This side certainly are believing that whoever they face, they will challenge them, and they've got the crowd behind them."

>Absolute scenes at the USA v Bosnia-Herzegovina watch party!

>How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

>Everything you need to know about the World Cup