By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

USMNT begins Belgium prep and takes in a Seattle Mariners game

The United States Men’s National returned to the University of Washington soccer stadium to continue its preparations for Monday’s Round of 16 match with  Belgium.  It will be the second time the USMNT has used the Husky Soccer Complex to prepare for a match. The team used the Husky complex before its 2-0 win over Australia.

LOOKING TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY

The Stars and Stripes will be without striker Folarin Balogun, who received a yellow card in the team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The lone good news surrounding the striker’s red card is that FIFA has limited his ban to one match.

 “I feel calm right now, I feel okay. We’re going to go out to practice, and always being on the practice field just helps me to take my mind off things. So, for me, it’s another day,”   Balogun said before hitting the practice field .

Also hitting the practice, although on a limited basis, was Cristian Roldan, who is recovering from a right quadricep injury suffered in the team’s last practice before the Australia match.

SOCIAL EVENT
In addition to the practice, the USMNT attended the Seattle Mariners game with the Toronto Blue Jays. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino threw out the first pitch, and the team was honored by the Mariners’ faithful.

The team will practice Saturday and Sunday at Husky Stadium before shutting down game prep.

BELGIUM IS ALSO LOCAL

Belgium is also practicing in familiar surroundings. The Red Devils have been using the Seattle Sounders’ practice complex as their home base since the tournament began. While the times are different, the  Red Devils will stick to the same   schedule as the USMNT in that they will hold practice on Saturday and Sunday before shutting down for Monday’s match

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