Just ahead of second-half stoppage time, Spain super substitute Mikel Merino sent a one-timer into the back of the Belgium net to send his national team to the semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.
Mikel had also come in late in the game before scoring the winning goal against Portugal in the quarterfinals. He was in the right place at the right time after Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper bobbled a low, hard shot that Spain’s defender Pau Cubarsí sent from distance.
Spain got on the board first in the 30th minute. Winger Dani Olmo cut the ball back into the box, where it was met with a quick strike from a sprinting Lamine Yamal. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is regarded as the top netminder in the world, made the initial stop but sent the ball back into play. Midfielder Fabián Ruiz pounced on the rebound and sent the ball past the goal line.
Belgium broke Spain’s five-game shut-out streak late in the first half, becoming the first team to score against La Roja this World Cup. Defender Timothy Castagne did well to beat Spain’s offside trap before launching a right-footed cross into the path of striker Charles De Ketelaere, who headed it into the net.
The Red Dragons had trouble maintaining possession against Spain’s strong midfield and defense, often relying on left-winger Jérémy Doku, an outstanding ball handler, to collect the ball in his own end and dribble forward as much as possible into the final third of the pitch. Those tactics didn’t generate scoring chances in the first half.
Belgium found a rhythm in the second half, putting more dangerous passes in and around Spain’s penalty box and reviving its supporters inside a Los Angeles Stadium where they appeared to be outnumbered by Spain supporters.
Belgium made it to the quarterfinals three times in the past 12 years; its best World Cup finish was third place in 2018. Spain won the World Cup in 2010 but didn’t make it past the quarterfinals in the next three tournaments after that.
Yamal, Spain’s 18-year-old phenom, has not yet scored a World Cup goal.
Spain outshot Belgium 16–5 and had 55 percent of the ball possession. Ahead of this match, Spain had only allowed its opposition five shots in this tournament and had gone 609 minutes in World Cup play without conceding a goal.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said his side played a very strong, tactical match and had seized the momentum past the 60th minute, but suffered a major setback when goalkeeper Courtois and other key players needed to be subbed out because of injuries.
“I think we were really good to give Spain such a run for their money,” he said during the post-game press conference. “When you come up against a team of this caliber, you need luck as well.”
