US Edition 
Belgium v USA: Jurgen Klinsmann's team bow out of World Cup after heroic performance in extra-time
Belgium vs United States World Cup 2014 match report: Result 2-1 after extra-time - Julian Green's strike not enough after goals for Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku
They almost became the ultimate Comeback Kids, but in the end, the United States fell just short of the line.
Thanks to a game-changing substitution by Marc Wilmots, introducing Romelu Lukaku to make one goal and score the other, it is Belgium who will face Lionel Messi and Argentina in a World Cup quarter-final in Brasilia on Saturday.
But such was the never-say-die-spirit of Jürgen Klinsmann’s side, this result was certain only when referee Djamel Haimoudi blew his whistle at the end of 120 pulsating minutes.
It was though Klinsmann’s players had devoured every word of Al Pacino’s iconic 'Inch By Inch' speech in Any Given Sunday and responded to his “What are ya gonna do?” challenge by showing exactly what performing in the World Cup meant to the States.
In a dramatic period of extra-time, after goalkeeper Tim Howard had produced a one-man show of defiance during the 90 minutes, Belgium claimed victory with goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Lukaku. But with American substitute Julian Green scoring on 107 minutes, the Americans pounded the Belgian goal until they were beaten by the clock. They went for broke and almost snatched an equaliser, but while it was not to be, they proved they now belong at the highest level.
“We need to find a way to move on from this, but the hope is that the team can benefit from this experience,” Klinsmann said. “We have some good tournaments ahead of us.
“We host the Copa America in two years’ time, so it is chance for the team and the sport to develop now.”
Klinsmann’s decision to drop defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman in order to push full-back Fabian Johnson forward in a new-look 4-3-3 formation was surprising, but it reflected the coach’s determination to take the game to the Belgians. But despite a flurry of early chances, the first half quickly became a war of attrition.
The Belgians had created two clear chances inside the opening two minutes. Divock Origi should have done better after just 40 seconds, but was blocked by Omar Gonzalez after the Lille forward had raced on to De Bruyne’s through ball.
De Bruyne then spurned Belgium’s second chance moments later when his run at goal ended with the former Chelsea midfielder shooting wide.
With Jermaine Jones anchoring their midfield, the Americans gradually gained a foothold. But it was not until the 21st minute that they tested Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois saved comfortably from Clint Dempsey’s strike, but the easy manner by which Dempsey and Michael Bradley linked to create the chance would have alarmed Wilmots.
Belgium responded well and should have scored on 23 minutes on the counter-attack. Jan Vertonghen broke forward, but after the Tottenham defender picked out De Bruyne, the youngster shot wide.
The lack of stimulation was no excuse for the alarmingly dozy response of the stadium security team, however, following a brief interruption by a pitch invader.
Wearing a Superman outfit with a “Save Favelas Children” message across his chest, the spectator was left free to run around for over a minute.
Belgium were the more creative team, however, and a pre-match tweet from President Obama urging the States to “out-hustle the competition” seemed apt. And it was a message they had taken on board.
Wilmots’s team upped the tempo in the second-half, though, with Eden Hazard, Vertonghen and Dries Mertens involved in repeated raids.
As early as the 47th minute, Mertens was denied an opener when Howard produced an acrobatic save to tip over the winger’s header. Howard was helpless nine minutes later when Origi directed another header goalwards but the American keeper was saved by the crossbar.
Mertens then spurned another Belgian chance when his back-heel from Origi’s cross dropped on the wrong side of Howard’s right-hand post.
The Americans were living dangerously, having lost control of the midfield, but Belgium were creating problems for themselves by failing to take advantage of their opportunities.
But as the Belgians turned the screw tighter, Howard grew in stature. By the end of normal time, Howard’s saves tally had hit double figures, with Origi, Marouane Fellaini, Hazard and Kevin Mirallas and Vincent Kompany all denied by him.
When US substitute Chris Wondolowski blazed over from six yards deep in stoppage time before wrongly being given offside, it was a heart-in-mouth moment for Belgium.
But justice was served when De Bruyne scored three minutes into extra-time after being released by Lukaku to give Belgium the lead.
When Lukaku added a second on 105 minutes, it appeared to be game over until Green’s volley two minutes later threw the Americans a lifeline.
Klinsmann’s players then scrapped for every ball, going agonisingly close to an equaliser when Courtois denied Dempsey from a brilliantly worked free kick, but they just fell short.
But make no mistake. The Americans are going home, but they have certainly arrived. As Obama put it afterwards: “We’ll win it sooner than the world thinks.”