Ten minutes of soccer at the outset on Monday was all it took for Belgium, a small European country where the sport has loomed over the sports scene for generations, to display its superiority to the United States at the world’s game as played by men.

From the first whistle, the Americans looked too clumsy, disconnected and immature to compete for the World Cup quarterfinals berth.

It was disheartening to see several U.S. players muff simple efforts to control the ball. Glaringly, a frequent offender was Christian Pulisic, a bona fide American star who grew up in Pennsylvania and perhaps was hindered by previous calf issues Monday.

Doing what European teams often do in high-stakes matches against the U.S., Belgium exhibited a casual mastery of both manipulating the ball, coordinating varied attacks and pressing.

Amid its six-shot flurry in the initial 10 minutes, Belgium created one golden chance that was a near miss. Another was well denied by Major League Soccer goalkeeper Matt Freese. Yet another made it 1-0.

The Americans, at last coming up for air, had a moment late in the half that buoyed a capacity crowd in Seattle’s NFL stadium and numerous watch parties throughout San Diego County.

Folarin Balogun, the striker whose 11th-hour reinstatement Sunday by FIFA unleashed an international furor and much anti-Yankee sentiment abroad, created a free kick with a fine hold-up play. Malik Freeman’s blast skimmed off a defender, wrong-footing Belgium’s world-class goalkeeper.

An infusion of false hope, however, is all the equalizer was.

Sixty-one seconds later, the ball was inside the U.S. netting, Belgium having punished defenders’ confusion in the penalty area.

The U.S. arose after intermission. It found some of its sharp form against Paraguay to begin the tournament.

This was a mirage.

Belgium turned a cringy error by Freese into a third goal. A fourth came from a subbed-in attacker who showed refinements the Americans lacked.

The sad but familiar truth:

The U.S. looked like it didn’t belong near a World Cup’s late stages.

Local reactions

“First and foremost,” said University of San Diego men’s soccer coach Brian Quinn, “Belgium played their best game and the U.S. played their worst.”

Quinn wondered about psychological fallout stemming from Balogun’s reinstatement from a round of 32 red card. A chat between FIFA czar Gianni Infantino and United States President Donald J. Trump preceded the reinstatement, which was highly unusual by World Cup norms, even though international football experts agreed the red card was unjust. A U.S. senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, did American soccer no favor by declaring on X that Trump reversed the red card.

“It certainly was on many people’s minds — on the team, in the U.S. and indeed workouts,” Quinn, a former San Diego Sockers midfielder who appeared in 48 matches with the U.S. national team, said of the curious reinstatement.

Belgium’s players were mindful, for sure, of the perception that Infantino and Trump, who are, in effect, business partners, put two thumbs on the scale. Celebrating the 4-1 win, several players mocked Trump by imitating his “YMCA” dance, both on the field and, with more fervor, in the locker room.

Above all, Quinn saw a lot to like from Belgium’s soccer.

“They pressed the U.S. from the start and choked their midfield into lots of turnovers,”  the Belfast native said by email. “There will be lots of discussion about individual performances and who could’ve, should’ve played better, but personally I would leave it all. On the day, the better team won. It’s important to respect Belgium’s squad, as they have a lot of guys playing on high level European teams.”

Former Sockers star Juli Veee, a North County resident who grew up in Hungary, said the American squad was exposed.

“USA and their media-manufactured bravado disappeared,” Veee said by email. “The ‘big’ players never showed up. The coach was no help. I wish they fired the coach before the Cup started and filled the position with an American! Back to you.”

On the bright side, from me:

The Americans looked no less capable than Brazil, which owns five Cup trophies. A Seleção appeared disengaged for much of its 2-1 loss against Norway, in the same round.

Also, the Belgium-Spain quarterfinals match, at noon Friday in the Kroenke Dome, should reward fans of artistic soccer.

I do have concerns about fallout from the U.S. loss.

Long ago, a train-riding and hitchhiking tour of several European countries took me to Belgium, where I was graciously taken in by the family of an American friend of mine.

The father gave me a tour of a Stella Artois brewery where he’d worked for decades. We enjoyed a few six-ounce samples apiece on a summer’s afternoon. Hours later, my new friend and his oldest son, a NATO pilot of American jets, took me to an outdoor cafe where we chatted for hours. Suffice that the Belgian beer tasted very good. I would also develop a taste for Belgian chocolate, a staple at Trader Joe’s stores.

Now would be a good time to stock up on both the brew and the chocolate. Tariffs will be coming.