Pointedly, Mauricio Pochettino was one of many in the dark. In ordinary circumstances, the United States securing their second-ever World Cup knockout victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday would have dominated the agenda for its historical context and national impact. Instead, Pochettino and his squad will leave Santa Clara for their Irvine base, 400 miles down the Californian coast, with an overwhelming sense of frustration, perhaps teetering towards infuriation.
Because despite the USA’s accomplished and well-deserved victory, there was a hot-button issue. Folarin Balogun’s second-half sending-off was clearly the major talking point. Pochettino had already voiced his dismay at the decision – “it’s never a red card, there was never [any] intention to step on the player” – when he pondered: “It should be possible to appeal the red card…”
