Pedri benched for Spain's World Cup quarter-final against Belgium; De Bruyne, Doku start for Belgium

Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente has made a significant tactical change for the World Cup quarter-final clash against Belgium, opting to start Fabián Ruiz in midfield over Pedri. This marks a notable shift, as Pedri had been a consistent starter in every match of the tournament up to this point.

Fabián Ruiz returns to the starting lineup after last featuring in the opening match against Cape Verde, which ended in a goalless draw. The rest of the Spanish squad remains unchanged from the team that defeated Portugal in the Round of 16, following earlier victories against Austria and Saudi Arabia. The Spanish starting XI is: Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal, and Baena.

Belgium, meanwhile, sees the return of key attacking talents Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku to their starting lineup. De Bruyne missed the previous match against the United States due to minor muscle discomfort, while Doku was a substitute in that game. Belgium's starting eleven is: Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Raskin, De Bruyne, Tielemans; Doku, De Ketelaere, and Trossard.

This quarter-final encounter promises to be a high-stakes match, with both teams fielding strong lineups. Spain will look to leverage their established squad cohesion, while Belgium aims to capitalize on the renewed attacking threat posed by De Bruyne and Doku.