Mikel Merino once again showcased his knack for crucial moments, propelling Spain to a World Cup semi-final. The player, who had previously secured Spain’s spot in a European Championship semi-final and a World Cup quarter-final, proved decisive once more. Coming off the bench in the 86th minute, Merino displayed remarkable awareness by seizing a loose ball in the 88th minute, ensuring Spain’s progression against Belgium.
As he celebrated in honor of his father, Thibaut Courtois, who might have thwarted Spain’s advance, could only watch from the sidelines. Senne Lammers, Belgium’s substitute keeper, was also powerless to intervene after dropping Pau Cubarsi’s shot. Meanwhile, Spain erupted in jubilation.
The victory stemmed from a pivotal decision by Luis de la Fuente, who replaced Pedri with Fabian Ruiz, a choice that ultimately paid off. Ruiz, playing for PSG, was instrumental in creating the first significant chance, assisting Rodri early on, and later netting the opening goal at the half-hour mark. The play began deep in Spain’s half, with Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal working in tandem to break through Belgium’s defense. A perfectly weighted pass from Yamal allowed Porro to set up Dani Olmo, whose initial strike was saved by Courtois but rebounded to Ruiz, who capitalized on the opportunity.
After scoring, Ruiz celebrated exuberantly, retrieving the ball from the net and shouting in delight. Spain had controlled the game for a significant stretch, particularly after the halftime break, and the lead they established seemed unassailable. Following a somewhat shaky start, Lamine Yamal began to assert himself, driving at Belgium’s defense and earning a free kick after being fouled on the edge of the area. Courtois managed to save the ensuing attempt.
The match took a sudden turn when, at 40 minutes and 12 seconds into the contest, Spain conceded its first goal of the tournament. Charles De Ketelaere leveled the score with a header, a move initiated by Jérémy Doku sprinting down the left flank and culminating in a precise cross from Timothy Castagne after a well-timed pass from Kevin De Bruyne, catching Spain’s defense off-guard.
The second half commenced with another impressive pass from Cubarsi, who had already breached Belgium’s defense earlier to find Álex Baena. This time he set up Lamine Yamal, who was thwarted by Courtois, although the linesman’s flag went up. Still, Spain sensed an opportunity, with Lamine Yamal’s low shot missing the target from a promising position.
Seeking more incisiveness, de la Fuente introduced Pedri and Ferran Torres early in the second half. However, Belgium issued a stark warning when Doku combined with De Bruyne, allowing Maxim De Cruyper to unleash a shot that narrowly missed the goal. Rudi Garcia responded by making three substitutions, bringing in Axel Witsel, Joaquin Seys, and Romelu Lukaku. Courtois continued to keep Spain at bay, saving a curling shot from Lamine Yamal, followed by another close-range denial of Oyarzabal.
However, the match took an unfortunate turn for Belgium when Courtois went down with a thigh injury, ultimately leaving the field in tears. This came on the heels of Youri Tielemans’ earlier departure due to injury. De Bruyne was also forced to exit later in the match. With Courtois sidelined, Spain began to find more avenues to attack, but Belgium’s defense remained resilient, blocking several attempts deep in their area.
The critical moment arrived just under two minutes after Merino entered the field; he made his presence felt immediately. With just one touch, he sent Spain into the semi-finals, marking a dramatic conclusion to the match.
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