Spain advances to World Cup semi-final after 2-1 victory over Belgium
11.07.2026
Spain secured a spot in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals, defeating Belgium 2-1 in a match that saw a late winning goal from Mikel Merino. The victory marks only the second time in their history that Spain has reached this stage of the tournament. Belgium, on the other hand, will not be able to replicate their 2018 historic run, with many of their veteran players potentially having played their last World Cup match.
The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute when Merino, who entered the game as a substitute in the 85th minute, capitalised on a loose ball. This goal sent Spain through to face France in the semi-final next week. Merino has a history of scoring crucial late goals, having done so for Spain in a European Championship semi-final two years prior and in a World Cup quarter-final four days earlier.
Key Moments and Player Performances
The match was not without its drama, particularly concerning Belgium‘s goalkeeping situation. Thibaut Courtois, a key player for Belgium and Real Madrid, was forced to leave the field in the second half due to a thigh injury. His replacement, Senne Lammens of Manchester United, was involved in Spain‘s winning goal. Lammens reportedly spilled a shot from Pau Cubarsí, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound.
Courtois‘s injury occurred after he made a challenging save against Spain‘s Lamine Yamal. Despite attempting to continue, he ultimately had to be substituted, visibly emotional as he left the pitch. This incident has raised concerns for Real Madrid, as Courtois is considered a vital player for the club, especially given their performance in the last two seasons without any trophies.
Lamine Yamal was named man of the match, with his relentless attacking play reportedly taking a significant physical and mental toll on the Belgium defence. Doku frequently had to track back to assist De Cuyper, who was later replaced by Joaquín Seys after an hour of play, indicating the pressure Yamal exerted.
Belgium’s Challenges and Future
Belgium faced significant challenges in the midfield, missing their first-choice players. Amadou Onana was out with an ACL injury sustained against the USA, and Youri Tielemans withdrew during the warm-up. This left their midfield depleted against what some consider to be one of the best in the World Cup.
The team’s manager, Rudi Garcia, has a contract that concludes after this tournament. While the squad is undergoing a transition, with established players like De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Courtois potentially nearing the end of their international careers, and younger talents such as Doku, Trossard, and Onana emerging, it remains to be seen if Garcia has done enough to earn a contract extension.
Despite the loss, Belgium showed moments of resilience. In the 90+2 minute, Saelemaekers dribbled past Simón and delivered a cross into the box, which Cubarsí cleared. In the 90+6 minute, Lukaku attempted to head a cross towards goal, but Merino intervened, and a subsequent challenge with Simón resulted in a foul against Lukaku.
The match also saw some notable individual performances and tactical adjustments. Kevin De Bruyne received a booking for a foul on his former Manchester City teammate Torres before being substituted for Alexis Saelemaekers. Rodri began to assert dominance in midfield as the game progressed, while Pedri and Williams combined effectively on the left flank for Spain.
In the 62nd minute, Seys, who came on as a left-back, immediately faced Yamal, who fired a shot saved by Courtois. A penalty appeal by Belgium was waved away after Laporte handled the ball in the box. Courtois also made a save from Oyarzabal at the other end. The match concluded with Spain advancing to the semi-finals against France next week.
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Source: theguardian.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.