By
Will Leitch,
a contributing editor covering sports and film at New York since 2008
and the author of six books, including the novels 'How Lucky' and 'The Time Has Come.'
Before Monday night’s World Cup Round of 16 game, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia was asked about the importance of the event. This is not a difficult question, and in any other context it would be a rather silly one. His team was playing an elimination game against the United States in the World Cup, the biggest sporting event on the planet, with the opportunity to reach the quarterfinal against juggernaut Spain. What could possibly be more important than that?
