Spain qualified for its first FIFA World Cup semifinal since 2010 by defeating Belgium 2-1 on Friday thanks to Mikel Merino‘s late winner, his second straight game, setting up a last-four encounter against France in Dallas next Tuesday.
Xinhua stated that Merino had also entered the game as a substitute to score the game-winning goal in Spain’s 1-0 win against Portugal in the round of 16, while the Red Devils easily defeated co-host the United States 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Pedro Porro’s low cross after Lamine Yamal’s run resulted in Dani Olmo’s first-time attempt, which Thibaut Courtois parried. Fabian Ruiz scored the rebound, giving Spain the lead in the 30th minute.
La Roja’s streak of six straight clean sheets at the FIFA World Cup was snapped in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere headed past Unai Simon after Timothy Castagne delivered a cross from the right to equalize for the Red Devils.
Simon’s World Cup record of 650 straight minutes without allowing a goal was also broken by De Ketelaere’s score.
Belgium suffered a setback when Courtois had to leave the field injured after making his 21st FIFA World Cup appearance in the 71st minute. This was the second-highest number among goalkeepers, behind Germany’s Manuel Neuer (23).
Two minutes after entering the game as a replacement, Merino scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. Spanish midfielder Pau Cubarsi was able to seize the loose ball from close range after Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens was unable to stop his long-range attempt.
After winning the championship in South Africa in 2010, La Roja kept on to win 2-1 and advance to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since.
Spain has gone 36 straight matches without losing in regular time, a run that started with a 0-1 friendly loss to Colombia in 2024.