'Balogun not to blame': Garcia plays down controversy after Belgium knock out USA

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Balogun[/a] started the game despite a red card against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia & Herzegovina[/a], after FIFA's independent disciplinary committee revoked his one-game suspension, opting to give him a probationary suspension instead.[/p][p]The striker struggled in the clash as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Red Devils[/a] ran riot, and Garcia put that down to his tactical gameplan, which made the inclusion of the 25-year-old a non-factor.[/p][p]After the game, Balogun sought out the manager, something that was admired by Garcia.[/p][p][b]Speaking about that moment in his post-match press conference, he said: "He came to talk to me, and I really liked it. It’s not his fault; he is not to blame. I appreciate the gesture, and I appreciate the player... I had no doubt that the central defence with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngoy-nathan/x6Zak7to/"]Nathan Ngoy[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mechele-brandon/6k4GFuni/"]Brandon Mechele[/a] could fight them back.[/b][/p][p]He added: "We wanted to play higher up, we scored the first goal from a ball recovery high up, the same with the third.[/p][p][b]"We played with mastery, with willingness and dedication... It’s a great night for us."[/b][/p][embed guid="08e7def2-ecfe-4983-b365-7558637d54ee" url="https://x.com/BelRedDevils/status/2074315204704240101" social-type="twitter" /][p]A brace from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-ketelaere-charles/2eOa3r1T/"]Charles De Ketelaere[/a] repaid the faith in playing him as a makeshift forward, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vanaken-hans/0Cu4qHps/"]Hans Vanaken[/a] became [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a]'s oldest scorer at 33 in a knockout game.[/p][p]His inclusion as a first-half substitute for the injured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/onana-amadou/roId3gPf/"]Amadou Onana[/a], who is likely to miss the rest of the tournament according to Garcia, was a surprise given [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-bruyne-kevin/MsPs6OI5/"]Kevin De Bruyne[/a] was also on the bench. But Garcia's bold call paid off, as did the decision not to start Manchester City winger, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doku-jeremy/lMHcYK4f/"]Jeremy Doku[/a].[/p][p][b]Garcia explained: "We didn’t need Kevin to play; we scored goals, and when Onana got injured, we needed Hans. We needed an aerial defence with Hans. I am happy that at his age, he could score a goal at a World Cup."[/b][/p][p]Belgium will now play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] on Friday for a spot in the semi-finals, a special occasion for the 62-year-old, who has Spanish heritage.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-justice-served-as-belgium-have-last-laugh-to-dump-out-co-hosts-usa/dxs5ErVI/"]Read more analysis from the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="79bb87c6-d26e-46c2-b1ec-7eec56479c0a" /]