Spain v Belgium
Play By Play
It's all over in Los Angeles, as Spain advance to their first World Cup semi-final since 2010 with a last-gasp 2–1 win over Belgium!! Level at 1–1 following Ruiz and De Ketelaere's goals in the first half, the intensity went up a fair few notches in the second, with chances aplenty at both ends and a number of near-misses. Belgium began the brighter (despite producing just 0.38 xG in total) with De Cuyper and De Bruyne going closest, but it didn't take long for Spain to get back into the ascendancy and make good on their 2.08 xG. Yamal, Oyarzabal, and Yamal again tested both Courtois and his injury-enforced replacement Lammens in the Belgian net, with Spain unable to find a way through until a crucial change was made late on. Merino's introduction proved inspired as he popped up to score the winner just one minute and 57 seconds after coming off the bench, turning home the rebound of a Cubarsi shot which was Lammens spilled into his path at close range. La Roja held out for the next ten minutes to book their place in the 2026 semi-finals, sending Belgium packing to set up another all-European clash – against back-to-back finalists France in a potential epic on Tuesday. You can be sure that we'll see you then, as a second World Cup crown comes into view for Spain, 16 years after their first.
FULL-TIME: SPAIN 2–1 BELGIUM.
SAVED!!! Spain haven't given up hope of a third goal and Cucurella is played into space, driving towards the Belgium box and drilling a low strike straight into Lammens' gloves!
CHANCE!! Belgium throw numbers into La Roja's box as Raskin lines up a superb cross from the right-hand side. Simon goes up for it but spills the ball under pressure from Lukaku, who is penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper just as Cubarsi desperately sweeps it clear!
With Spain also looking to counter-attack, the midfield battle becomes bogged down as Witsel tussles for possession with Pedri and Rodri, catching the latter with a late lunge that results in a booking for the Belgium veteran.
A turnover of possession in midfield allows Doku to burst forward on the break for Belgium, until he's halted by Laporte bringing him to ground in a yellow card-worthy challenge.
WHAT A CHANCE!!! Desperate defending keeps Belgium at bay!! Simon is drawn off his line and caught in no-man's land as Doku slips Saelemaekers into space down the left, with the substitute rounding the goalkeeper and crossing from the byline. Lukaku looms with the goal gaping, but a perfectly-timed, acrobatic clearance from Laporte sends the loose ball back into Simon's gloves!
We're into the first of at least SEVEN additional minutes in Los Angeles, leaving Belgium with more than enough time to bounce back from that sucker-punch from Merino!
There are just two examples of a player scoring the winning goal for Spain in a World Cup knockout game as a substitute – Merino against Portugal in the round of 16, and (potentially) Merino again v Belgium today.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! An instant impact from the substitute, and potentially the most important World Cup goal in a generation for Spain!!! After Yamal and Williams' efforts are both blocked away to safety, La Roja build from deep as Pedri plays the ball across to Cubarsi. The centre-back strides onto it and sends a low shot goalwards, which Lammens spills straight into the path of Merino. He scored within minutes of coming on against Portugal, and once again Spain's utility man pounces from close range, tapping home to make it 2–1 with just two minutes of normal time remaining!
Spain will also make a late, attack-minded change, with super-sub Mikel Merino replacing Olmo in the hope of repeating his heroics against Portugal last time out.
De Bruyne does come off in Belgium's final change, with Alexis Saelemaekers set to make a late cameo out wide and Lukaku taking the armband for his side.
De Bruyne drags down his opposite number Torres from behind, thwarting a quick spell of Spanish passing but resulting in a yellow card for the Belgium captain.
CHANCE!! A long ball over the top draws Simon well out of his box, and the goalkeeper's hacked clearance falls kindly for De Bruyne. He shoots towards the open goal, but Rodri gets in the way of it to deny Belgium a 40-yard winner!
CHANCE!! Yamal runs in behind Seys as Rodri scoops a pass over the top for him, but a poor first touch from the Spain winger allows the substitute to block him off, and Lammens comes to collect!
De Bruyne is making his 18th World Cup appearance in this match, and looks set to carry on (for now) as we edge towards minute 90...
With Courtois already forced off injured, De Bruyne has now pulled up for Belgium, and with only one substitution left to use, Rudi Garcia may need his captain to come through the last 10 minutes of normal time here.
Another Spain change sees their top scorer Oyarzabal withdrawn, with a fit-again Nico Williams on to replace him and forcing a re-jig of how La Roja line up in attack.
Belgium have progressed from two of their last three World Cup quarter-finals, eliminating Spain on penalties in 1986 and beating Brazil 2–1 in 2018. The Red Devils' one defeat at this stage came in 2014, losing 0–1 to eventual runners-up Argentina.
Space opens up for Yamal on the right-hand side once again and he cuts inside before teeing up Porro, but the Tottenham full-back delays his cross and it's easily intercepted by Raskin in the Belgian box.
Belgium's defence is almost opened up twice in quick succession, but Oyarzabal slightly overruns Olmo's pass, and Porro's incisive throughball is then cut out by Mechele before Torres can get there.
There are 16 years and 75 days between two of Rudi Garcia's substitutes – Witsel and Seys – as Courtois becomes the first ever Belgium goalkeeper to be substituted off in a major tournament match.
Courtois is in fact unable to carry on following that injury, and comes off in a huge blow for Belgium's chances. Manchester United's Senne Lammens replaces the Red Devils' long-time number one, and it remains to be seen how their gamelan may change from here.
CHANCE!! Rodri's scooped pass over the top is nodded back into the middle by Cucurella, with Torres arriving to powerfully nod over the top just as Cucurella is flagged for offside!
The game gets back underway with Courtois seemingly fit to carry on, as Belgium's players, coaches and fans all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
