​Spain defeated Belgium to reach the World Cup semi-finals, and Dave Portnoy has stepped into the discourse surrounding the match. He initially criticized Belgium for a performance that left fans disappointed, especially given how composed and dominant Spain appeared on the day. Portnoy’s first remark highlighted that this Belgium side had eliminated his own USMNT from the tournament, writing: “The fact we lost to this Belgium team is so embarrassing.”
As the game wore on, Belgium grew more competitive, and Portnoy adjusted his assessment. He began to acknowledge that at least one Belgian player was showing real quality. He specifically pointed to Romelu Lukaku, who entered the game in the 60th minute and added bite to Belgium’s attack. Portnoy commented: “Ok maybe Belgium isn’t that bad. At least that dude who dominated us and just dominated that Spanish defender isn’t that bad. He just ragdolls people in the box. Spain is still dominating, though.”
A fan responded by noting that Portnoy hadn’t named the player in question, a point that sparked a heated exchange. The fan wrote: “The moment people say ‘that dude’ is why football will never have the same appeal in America. If you have time to type, you have time to look up who he is.” In response, Portnoy retorted: “Or if you know ball (which you clearly don’t) when I say ‘that dude’ on Belgium everybody instantly knows who I’m talking about. I wish Elon would ban casuals.”
Portnoy has remained deeply engaged in this World Cup debate, defending his expertise and perspective even as some critics suggest he’s new to the scene. Lukaku did inject a spark off the bench, but his impact wasn’t enough to overturn a Spain side that proved formidable, though not invincible, on Friday. For Portnoy and, by extension, some US fans, there may be a measure of consolation in recognizing that Spain’s triumph was hard-earned and not a blanket thrashing, suggesting a potential opening or two that could fuel optimism for the United States in future matchups.
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The two biggest US TV events surrounding the USMNT vs. Belgium World Cup clash, in terms of reach, illustrate the significant audience interest surrounding the match.