USMNT's Tim Ream responds to Folarin Balogun comments about red-card controversy

United States men's national team forward Folarin Balogun raised eyebrows when he suggested that his much-discussed red-card situation put extra pressure on the squad ahead of the United States' round-of-16 FIFA World Cup matchup versus Belgium, which the Americans lost 4-1.

During a Thursday appearance on ESPN, United States captain and defender Tim Ream responded to Balogun's comments. 

Tim Ream: Folarin Balogun controversy didn't "put extra pressure" on USMNT

"For me, if I look at it, I think guys were excited," Ream said about Balogun being made available to play against Belgium, per Brogan Clasper of HITC. "Again, from his perspective, maybe it was all the attention that it was bringing, and that’s a unique thing. There are 26 guys within the team, right? Everybody’s going to feel something different, so perspective is everything. If that’s what he felt, then that’s what he felt. ...I don’t think it put extra pressure. I think it put more eyes on FIFA, the process, why it was a red card to begin with, how it came to be, and why it has been overturned."

Balogun was sent off during the United States' 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round-of-32 game after his right foot landed on the leg of Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, which caused Muharemovic's ankle to turn. It's now known that President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of Balogun's suspension, and Balogun was ultimately permitted to play against Belgium. 

The Americans then looked outmatched and overwhelmed throughout the must-win game that was played on home soil. According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin said after the lopsided contest that "there's always a justice somewhere in life" and that Balogun being made available for selection gave Belgium "a little bit of [motivation] that we needed to win the game."

Tim Ream reflects on USMNT's poor showing against Belgium

Also on Thursday, Ream spoke during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" about the USMNT crashing out of the World Cup.

"It's disbelief," Ream said about how he and his teammates reacted in the dressing room after the defeat, per ESPN. "It's trying to put together and understand what had just gone on because it was polar opposite of the way we had played up to that point. I think the feeling in the room was shock and trying to understand where and why we had the game that we did."