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FIFA World Cup
Striker Balogun was cleared by FIFA to play in the co-hosts' pivotal Round-of-16 clash despite having earned a red card in the previous game.
"I am so frustrated and so disappointed with the people who are supposed to understand this situation," said Pochettino.
"I think it didn't affect our performance... it's not an excuse, and we cannot put excuses, it wasn't our day."
"I think it didn't affect our performance... it's not an excuse, and we cannot put excuses, it wasn't our day."
Balogun, the top US scorer of the tournament with three goals, started the game against Belgium but was not able to make a significant mark.
The US looked a shadow of the team that had made a bright start to the tournament on home soil, inflaming the hopes of the American public for a deep run into the FIFA World Cup.
The US looked a shadow of the team that had made a bright start to the tournament on home soil, inflaming the hopes of the American public for a deep run into the FIFA World Cup.
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"It was a very bad day. It wasn't our day, in a collective and individual way," said Pochettino.
"And we need to accept that sometimes this type of thing happens, but in a tournament like a World Cup, when that happens, you have not another chance."
Sources: AFP, FIFA via Getty Images
"And we need to accept that sometimes this type of thing happens, but in a tournament like a World Cup, when that happens, you have not another chance."
Sources: AFP, FIFA via Getty Images
