In the end–thank the footballing Gods–the Beautiful Game came out trumps.
For many it was just a matter of time before the sainted U.S. president, enabled by his fawning acolyte FIFA President Gianni Infantino, would try to stir the odds at this year’s World Cup.
The move, long-predicted, came just before the USA-Belgium last 16 decider, when star American striker Folarin Balogun was illegally allowed to play despite receiving a red card for a foul tackle in the home nation’s win over Bosnia & Herzegovina on July 1.
Intense Lobbying
It’s now been revealed that President Trump instigated five-days of intense lobbying with FIFA, which controversially awarded him a specially-created Peace Prize last December, to overturn Balogun’s one match ban so he could play the Bosnians and help his side progress to the quarter-finals.
Yesterday–in surely the very definition of poetic justice–the U.S. team, in an oddly lethargic and burdened display, were roundly beaten 4-1 by the Belgians at Seattle Stadium.
Charles De Ketelaere was the star of the show for Belgium, scoring twice in the first half before assisting Hans Vanaken in the second as Rudi Garcia’s side set up a quarter-final clash with Spain, who beat neighbours Portugal 1-0 in a closely fought encounter.
The defeat of Team USA was greeted with huge relief by football fans around the world.
Fair Play
What would have been the outcome for fair play had the U.S. beaten Belgium?
Football being relabelled soccer, the introduction of water breaks, creating a game of four American football-style quarters and not two halves; higher powers overturning inconvenient red cards, where next would it have led?
Bosnia & Herzegovina rolling over because they were saved by a U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Serbs in the 90s? Or Belgium capitulating because they were liberated by American troops in WW2?
Mr Trump has made such transactional arguments to justify his claim on Greenland, for example.
Thankfully it is the football that has triumphed over Balogan’s contentious red card and Mr Trump’s untimely tackle.
World Class Mundial
This Mundial has served up a feast of spectacular goals and football of world class quality – although the Financial Times–that bible of sportswriting prowess–claims that sportsbooks are losing money hands over feet, some US$50 million (£37.35m) and counting, in the case of DraftKings, according to Bank of America estimates, for example.
Of course what the FT fails to understand is that the big thing during–and most critically after–a sporting super event such as the World Cup, which by its very nature attracts hordes of first time punters, is retention. Retention. And retention.
Retaining these new players, making them loyal customers, is where the real wealth and success lies.
Latest Odds
Turning to the latest odds on who will lift the World Cup Trophy July 19, England, following their stirring last 16 victory over co-hosts Mexico in the cauldron of the Azteca Stadium, have surged up the table, with most bookies quoting them as third or fourth favourites to win planet football’s greatest contest.
Polymarket are posting France at 33 percent, Argentina, 17 percent; England, 14 percent and Spain, 13 percent; with Morocco and Norway also surging.
Watch the matches, if not this space!
