The Egyptian football federation said Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team who handled the Pharoahs loss 3-2 last-16 to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup.

"Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier... after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup," said a statement from the federation.

Dozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement in the decision to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card.

Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup on July 1, which normally would make him ineligible to play in the team's next game, but FIFA lifted his suspension for a match on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.

It was another World Cup epic from an Argentina team that simply doesn't know when it's beaten.

Trailing 2-0 against Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time to play on Tuesday, the defending champions rallied for an improbable 3-2 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.

FIFA has defended the reputation of World Cup referee Raphael Claus in rare pushback on comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who questioned his integrity for sending off Folarin Balogun.

Trump suggested on Monday at the White House, without elaborating, that the 46-year-old Brazilian was "a little bit suspect if you check his past."

The United States had Folarin Balogun in the lineup but had its defensive shortcomings exposed by Belgium in a 4-1 loss in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday. Balogun started the match in Seattle after FIFA lifted his one-game suspension for a red card in the round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Earlier Monday in Arlington, Texas, Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the last World Cup appearance for 41-year-old Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer's career leader in international goals. Spain and Belgium will meet in the quarterfinals.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Sunday's painful World Cup last-16 exit at the hands of Norway should be used as "fuel" for the future as he insisted their disappointing tournament is "the start of a new cycle".

U.S. President Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to have the red card for the co-hosts star striker Folarin Balogun reviewed is the latest instance of political interference in the World Cup.

Balogun is free to play later on Monday in the last-16 match with Belgium after world football's governing body said the ban will be suspended for a year.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch after his team's victory over Australia in the World Cup, saying he was dedicating it to both Egyptians and Palestinians.

"My heart and soul are with them," he said in an emotional postgame interview.

Although Spain arrived at this year's World Cup as a championship favorite and then went unbeaten through group play, those first three matches weren't overly impressive.

When the knockout rounds finally arrived Thursday, this star-studded team turned on its full talent and served notice that Spain can be just as good as everybody thought — and it's probably getting better.

Knockout matches continue Wednesday at the World Cup in the round of 32 with 2010 champion Spain advancing with a 3-0 victory over Austria in Inglewood, California, just outside Los Angeles. Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo in his sixth World Cup tournament, edged 2018 finalist Croatia 2-1 in Toronto, while Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver, British Columbia in the late game.