Spain secured a spot in the World Cup semi-finals after a dramatic late goal from substitute Mikel Merino sealed a victory against Belgium. The quarter-final match, held in Los Angeles, saw Spain overcome a resilient Belgium side that had to contend with an injury to their goalkeeper.
The match was closely contested, with Spain initially taking the lead in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz. However, Belgium responded just before halftime, with Charles de Ketelaere scoring to level the game and end Spain‘s impressive run of not conceding a goal in the tournament. This marked the first time Spain had conceded in 649 minutes at the 2026 World Cup.
Dramatic Second Half and Injury
The second half saw continued pressure from Spain, though clear-cut chances were limited after their opening goal. Belgium‘s defense held firm, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making several key saves, including blocking a shot from Mikel Oyarzabal. The game took a significant turn in the 71st minute when Courtois sustained what appeared to be a muscle injury and had to leave the field, visibly emotional.
His replacement, Senne Lammens, came on for only his third international appearance. The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute when Pau Cubarsi‘s 25-yard strike was spilled by Lammens, allowing Mikel Merino to pounce on the rebound and score from close range. Merino had only been on the pitch for 117 seconds after replacing Dani Olmo, marking his second late winner of the tournament, having also scored a 91st-minute goal against Portugal in the last 16.
Spain‘s manager, Luis de la Fuente, has built a team capable of competing at the highest level, as evidenced by their Euro 2024 triumph. Despite being considered among the favorites for the World Cup, Spain has yet to hit top gear in the tournament, securing another last-gasp victory after their 1-0 win over Portugal.
Belgium’s Campaign Ends
For Belgium, the defeat marked a painful exit from the tournament, as their ‘golden generation’ once again fell short of securing a major trophy. Several key players, including Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, and Leandro Trossard, are likely playing in their final World Cup. Record scorer Romelu Lukaku, who has three goals in the tournament, was unable to inspire another comeback from the bench.
Belgium faced challenges even before the match began, with Amadou Onana ruled out due to an ACL injury and captain Youri Tielemans sustaining an injury during the warm-up. Despite these setbacks, Rudi Garcia‘s side showed resilience against Spain, who had fewer clear-cut chances after their opening goal.
Spain‘s young talent, Lamine Yamal, who is 18 years old, played a role in the Ruiz goal and showed flashes of brilliance, but largely remained on the periphery of the action. He tested Courtois on a couple of occasions and hit the side-netting with another opportunity. Spain will expect more from the Barcelona star, who will turn 19 on the eve of the semi-final.
Spain will now face France in the semi-finals on Tuesday, July 14, at 8:00 PM BST in Dallas. The match will be held at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. France secured their semi-final spot with a 2-0 victory over Morocco, with Kylian Mbappé scoring and assisting before being substituted due to injury concerns, though it does not appear to be a serious issue.
Spain‘s striker Mikel Oyarzabal expressed confidence in the team’s solid core group, stating, "Regardless of whether things go well or badly, or who’s playing, the team responds, and I think that’s crucial." Belgium‘s Lukaku acknowledged the challenge, saying, "We need to play the perfect game if we want to proceed. Spain is an excellent team. They’re well prepared, but we have certain assets that can make life difficult for them. We love the challenge."
The upcoming semi-final will be Spain‘s second appearance in a World Cup semi-final, having won their only previous title in 2010. Their journey since then has included a group-stage exit in 2014 and successive last-16 eliminations in 2018 and 2022. Spain‘s defense, a major strength in this tournament, finally cracked against Belgium, and they will need to find a higher level to overcome two-time champions France.
The match between Spain and France is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
Read Also
Source: cnn.com
