Spain, long ineffective, was still able to count on a late goal from Mikel Merino to dominate Belgium (2-1) on Friday July 10 in Los Angeles, offering an expected shock in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup against the French team.
Announced as two of the favorite selections for the title since the start of the tournament, Spain and France will face each other on Tuesday July 14 in Dallas for a place in the final, in a shock that will make the entire football world salivate.
If the Blues impressed against Morocco on Thursday (2-0), La Roja took time to make the decision against the Red Devils who were up to the challenge. As in the previous round against Portugal (1-0), Mikel Merino delivered his team with a goal in the final minutes.
The Spaniards thus qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the second time in their history after 2010, the year of their world title. They had participated in the final four-man group in 1950.
The Belgians may regret the injury of their captain Youri Tielemans, who was withdrawn at the last minute, and especially that of their totem goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who left the field injured in the 71st minute.
Lammens’s error
Seventeen minutes later, his replacement Senne Lammens made the fatal error: a loose ball on a long shot from Pau Cubarsi, at the feet of Mikel Merino (88th), a cruel outcome for the 24-year-old goalkeeper, during only his third selection, after a great season with Manchester United.
Still solid behind, La Roja nevertheless conceded its first goal of the tournament, on the first real Belgian incursion of the match: upon receiving a cross from Timothy Castagne, Charles de Ketelaere won his duel against Pau Cubarsi for a header which deceived Unai Simon (41st).
The Red Devils snatched the equalizer after the opener from Fabian Ruiz who had followed a poorly cleared save, this time from Courtois (30th), the Paris SG midfielder taking advantage of his first start since Spain’s first match against Cape Verde.
After a cautious start to the match, La Roja then seemed to gain confidence, with fantastic but unfinished collective action (38th).
Lamine Yamal, who still only has one goal in the competition, struggled, but lacked precision, shooting too far to the left (21st), too much to the right (40th and 52nd), or too close to Courtois (61st) before being frustrated by good defensive interventions.
The entries of Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel were not enough for the selection of Rudi Garcia, who shook one of the World Cup favorites.
Before the clash against France, Spain recovered striker Nico Williams, returning at the end of the match for the first time since his injury against Uruguay.
