Balogun started the game despite a red card against Bosnia & Herzegovina, after FIFA's independent disciplinary committee revoked his one-game suspension, opting to give him a probationary suspension instead.
The striker struggled in the clash as the Red Devils ran riot, and Garcia put that down to his tactical gameplan, which made the inclusion of the 25-year-old a non-factor.
After the game, Balogun sought out the manager, something that was admired by Garcia.
Speaking about that moment in his post-match press conference, he said: "He came to talk to me, and I really liked it. It’s not his fault; he is not to blame. I appreciate the gesture, and I appreciate the player... I had no doubt that the central defence with Nathan Ngoy and Brandon Mechele could fight them back.
He added: "We wanted to play higher up, we scored the first goal from a ball recovery high up, the same with the third.
"We played with mastery, with willingness and dedication... It’s a great night for us."
A brace from Charles De Ketelaere repaid the faith in playing him as a makeshift forward, whilst Hans Vanaken became Belgium's oldest scorer at 33 in a knockout game.
His inclusion as a first-half substitute for the injured Amadou Onana, who is likely to miss the rest of the tournament according to Garcia, was a surprise given Kevin De Bruyne was also on the bench. But Garcia's bold call paid off, as did the decision not to start Manchester City winger, Jeremy Doku.
Garcia explained: "We didn’t need Kevin to play; we scored goals, and when Onana got injured, we needed Hans. We needed an aerial defence with Hans. I am happy that at his age, he could score a goal at a World Cup."
Belgium will now play Spain on Friday for a spot in the semi-finals, a special occasion for the 62-year-old, who has Spanish heritage.
Read more analysis from the game with Flashscore.
Josh Donaldson is a Global Senior Editor and International Football Specialist for Flashscore. From the UK, now living in Prague, Josh specialises in football and cycling and can be found at an obscure ground watching games or on his bike. You can follow Josh on X and read his articles here.
