Chris Richards: Balogun's conduct key to red card appeal, team focused for Belgium clash

U.S. Men's National Team defender Chris Richards is looking ahead to the critical World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium with a sense of normalcy, despite the high stakes. Richards stated that the team is treating the game as "business as usual," even after a week filled with controversy surrounding teammate Folarin Balogun's red card suspension.

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Maybe it was the way that Flo conducted himself after the red card ... I think maybe that opened the door for potentially this decision. I give a lot of credit to Flo. He could have obviously gone the other direction with his response, but it is very refreshing that we got this decision.

Balogun was initially sent off after a tackle but had his suspension lifted by FIFA. Richards believes Balogun's composed reaction to the red card may have influenced the decision. "I give a lot of credit to Flo. He could have obviously gone the other direction with his response, but it is very refreshing that we got this decision," Richards told CBS News. He added that Balogun's consistent presence in training has kept the team focused.

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All week long, we trained with Flo. In training, he hasn't missed a day. So for us, it's business as usual.

The defender acknowledged the significance of the knockout match, calling it "the biggest game of our lives" and emphasizing the pride in representing the U.S. Richards, who plays for Premier League club Crystal Palace, is experiencing his first World Cup. He shared his lifelong dream of playing professional soccer, noting that it was once an unlikely aspiration for someone from Alabama. The growing popularity of soccer in the U.S., amplified by the World Cup being hosted domestically, has made his experience even more special.

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When you have your starting guy who's been scoring a lot of goals for you this tournament, I think it definitely gives you maybe an extra ounce of confidence that you need.