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US coach Pochettino regrets his limited role in Balogun red-card appeal at the World Cup · Best of: Features

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  U.S. Coach Pochettino regrets his limited role in Balogun red card appeal
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  at the World Cup.
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  This article is being red by an automated voice generated by Everlett.
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  Orlando, Florida, the AP. US coach Maurizio Pochetino says he should have
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  been more involved in the decision to appeal the red card given
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  to star forward Fuller and Balogun during the World Cup. Balogun's suspension
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  for the red card was lifted after President Donald Trump spoke to
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  FIFA leadership, allowing him to play against Belgium in the round of
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  sixteen. Balogun was the top scorer for the Americans, with three goals
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  when he received the red card in a two zero win over
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  Bosnia Herzegovina in the round of thirty two. At the time I
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  didn't fully understand the criticism. Pochettino said Friday ahead of the US
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  match Saturday against Peru. But now, with the benefit of time and
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  looking back on it, the truth is that you have to learn
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  from things, from mistakes, and I think sometimes the things that happen
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  during a tournament have to stay there. FIFA lifted the suspension, allowing
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  Balogun to play in the round of sixteen, an extraordinary move that
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  triggered praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium. It appeared to be
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  the first time since nineteen sixty two that a red card during
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  a World Cup. Didn't result in a suspension. Pochettino said Friday that
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  the entire energy changed after the suspension was lifted. Analyzing that game
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  now is difficult, considering it was not the best environment to go
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  to compete in a World Cup, he said. Belgium beat the US
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  4 1 to reach the quarterfinals, and Balogun had little impact in
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  the loss. Pochettino signed a four year contract to remain as coach
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  through the twenty thirty World Cup. The first roster of his second
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  term as coach was announced last week. Balligan, who hasn't played for
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  Monaco this season after a possible transfer to Everton fell through, is
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  not on the current U.S. Roster. Pochettino cited a leg injury. See
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  the AP's full soccer coverage here.