Ella Langley's Bangers Have Been the Pinnacle of This World Cup
She's Ella-ctric
Ohhhhh, I hate to veer credit their way. But watching the USMNT belt out an Ella Langley song is a dose of patriotism that I can only applaud.
Weston McKennie blasting Ella Langley on the USMNT team bus after the USA's win against Bosnia in the World Cup Round of 32 🇺🇸😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/GZnvcORJHc
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 2, 2026
That one Germany fan, Freddie, was doing the lord's work in hyping up her music to the millions of people that were tuning in to his Tweets over the course of his travels across the United States this summer, and now the USA squad - chiefly Weston McKennie - have been blasting her song 'Choosin' Texas' on their team bus after Mauricio Pochettino and co eeked past Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 to progress at their home World Cup.
And music has been a big thing to focus on for the USA so far this summer tournament - they had 'Free Bird' playing and 'Country Roads' has arguably been their song of the summer. And yet Langley's banger has been ringing around my head since the tournament began. Well, I'm English, so 'Wonderwall' and 'Three Lions' has been ringing around my head in equal measure.
The song is an absolute belter, I am not ashamed to admit. After a Google search earlier I have discovered that that would officially make me what is known as an 'Ella Fella'. I'm not mad at that, to be fair.
USMNT Need the Spirits Lifted
If anything is going to lift the spirits of the USMNT after their win against Bosnia, then they are going to need it quickly.
Yes, they are through, but a controversial red card for Folarin Balogun (in their eyes anyway - to us it was absolutely deserved) has left them reeling somewhat with their star striker, the scorer of three goals at this World Cup so far, now out for the count as they face up a mammoth battle with European favourites Belgium. The favourites for this clash in particular anyway because - as we know - Belgium are shit.
They will have to do battle with Belgium without their star man, and instead deploy the likes of Haji Wright or Ricardo Pepi in his vacant space in order to fill the gap suitably, which is certainly a tall order for the English export who netted 13 goals in the French Ligue 1 last season for AS Monaco.
But team spirit is what the Yanks will need, and good luck to them. As long as they can keep making use of our eligible players for their own need and eventually stop getting so big for their bootstraps, then good luck to them.
United States Survive Balogun Red Scare With... Balogun Goal
From Matty Connelly
A game of great contrast to the earlier barnstormer that was Belgium vs Senegal, but America once again proved their worth against a Bosnia side who didn't offer much, but still needed to be broken down nonetheless.
In actual fact, the Europeans might as well have flown home early and were outclassed and outfought in every area of the pitch. Perhaps that was best summed up by the period following Balogun's red card.
It was the dismissed who scored the opener before a stunning Tillman free kick wrapped it all up near the end to send the hosts cruising through once again.
To open the scoring, Tillman looked to find the Monaco forward with a through ball, only to see it diverted twice by lunging Bosnian bodies before it eventually found its intended target. Balogun swivelled on a sixpence before slotting away coolly in a similar fashion to his first. 1-0 Murica.
If at first you don't succeed... 😉
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 2, 2026
Folarin Balogun got his goal - eventually! pic.twitter.com/0A1Aua9krj
In the 63rd minute, a rather innocuous tussle for the ball between Balogun and Muharemovic left the latter writhing in agony on the floor. Upon watching the replay, it became clear that Balogun had, completely accidentally, stood right on the back of the Bosnian's achilles.
But, as is the way with VAR, the referee was referred to the monitor and saw a super slow motion replay of the challenge in which any person would have found it difficult not to award a red card - and that's exactly what he did.
The incident that led to a red card for Folarin Balogun.
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 2, 2026
Correct decision? pic.twitter.com/bzgLMxKFgS
Very, very harsh and unfortunate for Balogun, but it immediately changed the momentum with Bosnia having their first effort in a long time moments later, could we be in for a blockbuster finish to an otherwise timid game?
The answer was no, not even remotely.
The USA are through to the Round of 16! 🇺🇸
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 2, 2026
Malik Tillman curled home a stunning free-kick to seal a 2-0 victory ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zczP1CeZ8f
Even with one less man, the USA found themselves with the ball in the net once again in the 77th minute. A lovely bit of interplay by Tillman and McKennie saw the ball fall to the feet of Pulisic who bundled the ball home from six yards out, but the flag went up immediately and the Lebron James of Soccer was a few yards offside.
Again, questions about whether Bosnia remebered it was knockout football resurfaced as, in the 81st minute, without the Europeans mustering barely a sniff of the American goal, USA made it 2-0.
A delightful free kick by Tillman, who was by far the best player on the pitch, dipped wonderfully over the towering wall. A hand from Vasilj could do nothing but parry the effort into his own net. Game over.
Harry Pascoe 
Jake Brown 
