Spain dispatches Belgium and will face France in the World Cup semi-finals

Spain qualified for the World Cup semi-finals, for the second time in its history, in a match that repeated the script of the round of 16. Once again, Mikel Merino came off the bench to rescue the Spanish team with a goal in the 88th minute against Belgium (2-1) that joins his list of transcendental goals.

The quarterfinals of Euro 2024, the round of 16 and the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. All with a common pattern: Mikel Merino.

Of course, the game started with other protagonists. Jérémy Doku and Lamine Yamal greeted each other just before the opening whistle as a warning that their teams were in danger. Doku won the game in the first moments, but Lamine Yamal grew as the minutes passed, with one-on-one duels between the two.

The first part of the four that World Cup football has due to the hydration break was a trial, with Spain more dominant with the ball and two shots that Nathan Ngoy cleared, while Doku and Yamal tried to get the game going.

The latter started, after the break, the play for the goal. He attracted the attention of Doku and De Cuyper to filter a ball when Pedro Porro arrived from behind. Pass back to Dani Olmo, clearance by Thibaut Courtois and a goal with Luis de la Fuente stamp.

The Spanish coach was right again when modifying the team. It’s already customary. This time, a significant decision by seating Pedri and restoring confidence to Fabián Ruiz, starter in the debut and one of the four changes after the 0-0 against Cape Verde. Theirs was a 1-0 that relaxed Spain.

Maybe too much. From an attempted backheel by Mikel Oyarzabal on a wall with Dani Olmo, an excess rather than a resource, to a situation that Spain had never experienced before in this World Cup: conceding a goal.

A cross from Timothy Castagne from the right wing was finished off by Charles De Ketelaere, anticipating Pau Cubarsí at the near post. Forced, he managed to cross the ball and become the first player to score a goal against Unai Simón in a World Cup since Ao Tanaka on December 1, 2022.

Belgium was able to knock down Spain’s wall, left Unai Simón’s unbeaten record in the World Cup in 649 minutes and put a new stage on the grass of the Los Angeles stadium. To which Spain also adapted to reach the second World Cup semi-finals in its history and put away the ghosts of Mexico 1986. Of course, with suffering.

From the dominant version of Spain against Portugal to a less fluid version against Belgium that, yes, also took care to take fewer risks than the Portuguese. For this reason, Luis de la Fuente did not take long to move the bench and make the earliest changes of the tournament: Pedri and Ferran Torres on the field in the 55th minute.

However, the change that changed everything was forced. And in Belgium. In the 71st minute, Thibaut Courtois had to leave the field due to discomfort in his left thigh. In his place came Senne Lammens, a debutant, who ended up appearing as the protagonist in the photo of the goal that eliminated Belgium and qualified Spain.

Spain did not find the football it showed against Portugal but the script was repeated. Again, Mikel Merino to the rescue. Against the Portuguese, in the 91st minute; against the Belgians, in the 88th minute, two after going out onto the field.

A shot from Pau Cubarsí, from a distance, caused a poor clearance by Lammens inside the area that Mikel Merino, an opportunist, put into the goal.

The ‘6’ who continues to show his ‘9’ side to classify Spain to the second World Cup semi-finals in its history. Mikel Merino does not understand the wall of quarters. Spain is still on its way to achieving its goal of winning the second star.

This is how they aligned

– Spain (2): Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz (Pedri, m.55), Dani Olmo (Mikel Merino, m.86); Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal (Nico Williams, m.79), Baena (Ferran, m.55).

– Selector: Luis de la Fuente (ESP).

– Belgium (1): Thibaut Courtois (Senne Lammens, m.71); Timohty Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper (Joaquin Seys, m.61); Nicolas Raskin, Kevin De Bruyne (Alexis Saelemaekers, m.85), Hans Vanaken (Romelu Lukaku, m.61); Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, Leandro Trossard (Axel Witsel, m.61).

– Selector: Rudi García (FRA).

– Goals: 1-0: Fabián, m.30. 1-1: De Ketelaere, m.41. 2-1: Mikel Merino, m.88.

– Referee: Michael Oliver (English). He admonished Cubarsí (m.43) for Spain and De Bruyne (m.84) and Witsel (m.95) in Belgium.

– Incidents: World Cup quarterfinal match played at the Los Angeles stadium before 70,492 spectators. Before the game, a minute of silence was observed in memory of those who died in the Almería fires.

(With a report from Óscar Maya Belchí, from EFE)