Spain 2-1 Belgium: Merino Does It Again — Late Winner Sends La Roja to Face France in Dallas
⚽ Fabián Ruiz 30' • De Ketelaere 45+' • Merino 88' (sub)
Spain advance to SF vs France on July 14, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Mikel Merino. Again. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench, surveyed the chaos of a SoFi Stadium penalty area in the 88th minute, and tapped home after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsí's low shot straight into his path. It was Merino's second decisive substitute goal of this World Cup — he did the same against Portugal in the Round of 16 — and it sends Spain to a World Cup semifinal against France, the match the entire tournament had been building toward.
Spain are in their third World Cup semifinal and their first since 2010. Luis de la Fuente's side have now conceded their first goal of the tournament — De Ketelaere's equalizer broke a run of six consecutive clean sheets — but they still found the way through when it mattered. That is the mark of a championship team.
First Half: Ruiz Opens, Belgium Strike Back
Belgium arrived at SoFi already shorthanded. Captain Youri Tielemans pulled up injured during the warmup and did not make kickoff — a crippling loss for a side already missing the suspended Amadou Onana. Spain sensed the opportunity and moved through the gears early.
The opener arrived on 30 minutes. Dani Olmo drove toward the Belgian box, his shot was blocked, but the rebound dropped perfectly for Fabián Ruiz to finish calmly from close range — his third goal of the tournament. Spain were in control, Belgium were disorganized in midfield without Tielemans, and the game seemed to be following the predicted script.
Then Belgium hit back, and the timing was brutal. Right on the stroke of halftime, Charles De Ketelaere found space between Spain's center-backs — something almost no team had managed at this tournament — and finished clinically. It was Belgium's goal in seven consecutive World Cup matches and it completely changed the complexion of the game at the break.
Second Half: Courtois Off, Chaos, Merino Wins It
The second half was frantic. Spain had the ball but Belgium had the momentum. Then, in the 65th minute, Thibault Courtois — who had come on at halftime after being listed fit despite the knee scare — was forced off again with what appeared to be a recurrence of the same injury. Backup Senne Lammens came on. It would prove decisive.
With two minutes of normal time remaining and the match drifting toward extra time, Cubarsí struck a low shot from distance that Lammens should have held comfortably. He fumbled it straight into Merino's feet. The substitute did not miss. Spain were 2-1 ahead and Belgium had nothing left.
Belgium Eliminated — Golden Generation Falls Short Again
Belgium are out. The generation that produced De Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard, and the rest — the side ranked number one in the world for a record 93 months — has now failed to win a World Cup. De Bruyne played his last World Cup match today and finished without a winner's medal. Lukaku scored once from the bench. The Golden Generation's story ends here.
De Ketelaere was brilliant in spells. Doku caused Spain's left side real problems. But without Tielemans and Onana, the defensive midfield was exposed, and Spain's quality in possession — Pedri, Rodri, Olmo rotating efficiently — wore Belgium down over 90 minutes until the moment of goalkeeper error gifted the winner.
France vs Spain, July 14 — AT&T Stadium, Dallas
The semifinal is set: France vs Spain, the two most impressive teams of the tournament. Both unbeaten through six matches. France have scored 14 goals, Spain 13. France have conceded two (both from set pieces), Spain have now conceded one. This is the de facto World Cup final — the winner goes to MetLife on July 19 as the tournament's clear favorite.