Spain Break Belgium’s Resistance in 2-1 Win, Set for Semi-final Clash with France

Spain secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium, booking a highly anticipated semi-final clash with France at the World Cup. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when substitute Mikel Merino pounced on an error from Belgium's stand-in goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, to score the winning goal.

Lammens, who had only been on the pitch for a short time, was thrust into action after regular goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured. The goal was a heartbreaker for the young Belgian keeper, coming just moments after Pau Cubarsi's shot had been parried.

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It’s the character of the team. It’s an honour to coach a team so committed and eager to improve. It’s fair to think we can beat France. We’re going to work hard for it. We’re the only team that has managed to beat them twice. A great team is going to face another great team.

Spain had taken the lead through Fabian Ruiz, but Belgium equalized in the first half with a header from Charles De Ketelaere. Merino's late heroics, however, ensured Spain's unbeaten run of 37 matches since March 2023 continued.

Looking ahead, Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente expressed confidence in his team's ability to challenge tournament favorites France. "It's fair to think we can beat France. We're going to work hard for it. We're the only team that has managed to beat them twice," he stated. Merino echoed the sentiment, calling the potential World Cup victory a "dream come true."

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I’m thrilled. I doubt it will happen again. We’re two matches away from winning a World Cup. It’s a dream come true. Hopefully we can achieve it. Everyone is watching these matches. Being able to bring this joy is a source of pride. Against France, at this stage, we couldn’t expect anything less than an elite team.