Spain snatched a breathtaking 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium to secure their place in the World Cup semi-finals, where they will face tournament favourites France in Dallas on Tuesday.
The European champions looked to be heading for extra time until substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, introduced following an injury to Thibaut Courtois, spilled a routine shot into the path of Merino, who fired home his second consecutive late winner from the bench.
The Arsenal midfielder, who also struck in stoppage time against Portugal in the round of 16, proved the difference once again, capitalising on Lammens’ costly error to break Belgian resistance.
Fabian Ruiz had put Spain ahead on the half-hour mark, converting the rebound after Dani Olmo’s effort was parried by Courtois. But Belgium, who had fought back from two goals down to eliminate Senegal earlier in the tournament, responded through Charles De Ketelaere’s header four minutes before the interval.
The Red Devils had been dealt a significant blow before kick-off when captain Youri Tielemans suffered a hamstring injury during the warm-up, compounding the absence of Amadou Onana, who was ruled out with a ruptured ACL. The midfield crisis forced Belgium to field a near second-choice unit against Spain’s possession-based mastery.
Ruiz, recalled in place of Pedri, immediately established control alongside Rodri, while teenage sensation Lamine Yamal curled an early effort narrowly wide. At the opposite end, Jeremy Doku proved a constant threat, and his surging runs from the left almost created a second before half-time when De Ketelaere’s pass found the winger clear, only for Olmo to intervene crucially.
Spain dominated possession throughout, with Yamal growing increasingly influential after the break. His incisive cross almost found Mikel Oyarzabal, but Courtois charged out to smother the opportunity.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia introduced Romelu Lukaku, who had scored from the bench in three consecutive matches, as the game opened up. A Belgian cross struck Rodri’s arm but was deemed accidental, while Oyarzabal saw a close-range effort saved.
The match turned decisively when Courtois, in tears, was forced off with an injury after 70 minutes. His replacement, 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper Lammens, was making his World Cup debut in the most daunting of circumstances.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, Pau Cubarsi’s low shot from distance should have been gathered safely by Lammens. Instead, he spilled the ball directly into the path of Merino, who made no mistake from close range.
Belgium pressed desperately for an equaliser, and Alexis Saelemaekers rounded Unai Simon in stoppage time but could not find Lukaku in front of an open goal.
As the final whistle sounded, Courtois emerged to console a distraught Lammens, while Belgium’s ageing Golden Generation stood motionless, their World Cup dream in tatters.
For Spain, there were embraces and fist pumps before attention swiftly turned to Friday’s semi-final showdown with Kylian Mbappe and France—a clash that promises to be one of the tournament’s defining moments.
