COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland -- Youri Tielemans has revealed that FIFA's unexpected decision to lift Folarin Balogun's red card suspension played a role in Belgium's impressive performance against the United States in their World Cup knockout match.

Balogun's Suspension Controversy

Balogun was allowed to participate in the last-16 match despite being sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision followed an appeal from Donald Trump, prompting FIFA to reconsider the ban. The situation sparked controversy, with UEFA stating that FIFA had crossed a "red line." Ultimately, Belgium triumphed over the U.S. with a score of 4-1, and Tielemans suggested that the perceived injustice may have fueled their strong showing.

Reflection on the Match

“Yeah, I think that is part of the game, you know,” said Tielemans, who played a pivotal role in Belgium's victory. He noted that the celebrations following the win were enjoyable. “We were surprised by the decision to revert the red card and his suspension. Now, for us, it did not really change anything other than the preparation leading up to the game because it is a different type of player than the other player that was meant to play.” He emphasized that the team remained calm and focused on delivering a solid performance.

Injury Challenges and Future Prospects

Tielemans' World Cup journey was cut short due to an injury that ruled him out of Belgium's quarterfinal match against Spain, the eventual tournament winners. The 29-year-old had faced injury issues in the previous season, missing significant time between September and November, as well as from January to April. Now back in training with Manchester United in Ireland, he is preparing for a preseason friendly against Leeds United.

Reflecting on the demanding schedule during the World Cup, Tielemans mentioned, “We played 120 minutes against Senegal, and from there we had less time in between games.” He expressed confidence in his fitness, stating, “I do not think I am a player that I absolutely need a rest.” However, he acknowledged that he would inform the manager if he felt unwell, though he noted that such occurrences are rare for him.