Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then cleared to play against Belgium after his suspension was overturned. The decision became a flashpoint, with Uefa describing it as crossing a “linha vermelha” - a red line.
Tielemans said the reversal caught Belgium off guard. “Ficamos surpresos com a decisão de reverter o cartão vermelho e a suspensão dele”, he said. The change mattered less to Belgium’s overall plan than to its preparation: Balogun offered different qualities from the attacker the team had expected to face.
The sense of unfairness may have added edge to Belgium’s performance, but Tielemans stopped short of making it the sole explanation for the result. “Ficamos muito calmos, aceitamos o nosso destino e tentamos fazer uma boa partida”, he said.
Belgium had gone through 120 minutes against Senegal before the United States match, with little recovery time in between. Tielemans said he did not ordinarily feel he needed rest, while acknowledging that coaches must manage players through a crowded schedule.
His injury ruled him out of the next game, against Spain. The contrast was stark: he had helped Belgium navigate a charged last-16 tie, only to be sidelined when the tournament reached its decisive stretch.
Tielemans is now back in training with Manchester United in Ireland. The next question is whether he can feature against Leeds United in Wednesday’s Dublin friendly - and build the match rhythm that a frustrating end to his World Cup denied him.