Spain advances to World Cup semi-final against France after defeating Belgium
Spain secured a 2-1 victory over Belgium, advancing to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals where they are set to face France. The decisive goal came late in the match from Mikel Merino, who capitalised on an error by Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper, Senne Lammens. Lammens had entered the game after Thibaut Courtois was forced off due to injury.
Earlier in the match, Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain. However, Charles De Ketelaere netted an equaliser for Belgium, ending a significant clean sheet run for Spain’s goalkeeper. The semi-final clash between Spain and France is scheduled to take place in Dallas on July 14.
Spain’s Path to the Semi-Finals
Spain’s performance against Belgium demonstrated patience, with the team converting their two best opportunities. Despite being contained for extended periods, Spain’s ability to score quickly proved crucial. Coach Luis de la Fuente highlighted the team’s conviction and potential, stating they are capable of winning against France, whom he described as a “great giant of football.”
The victory marks a continuation of Spain’s recent success against France. Spain previously defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final, where Lamine Yamal became the youngest scorer in the tournament’s history. They also secured a 5-4 win in a UEFA Nations League semi-final in June 2025. These consecutive semi-final victories provide Spain with a psychological advantage heading into the upcoming match.
Key Player Contributions and Records
Midfielder Rodri played a dominant role in the match, managing 118 touches and covering extensive ground. His leadership and precise passing are expected to be vital in the semi-final against France. Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon, had an impressive run of six successive World Cup clean sheets dating back to the 2022 tournament. Before the Belgium match, he had gone 609 World Cup minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record for the longest period in World Cup history, surpassing Walter Zenga’s 517 minutes from 1990.
De Ketelaere’s goal in the 41st minute ended Simon’s 649-minute run without conceding at this World Cup. De la Fuente praised Simon’s exceptional performance and record, acknowledging that the achievement was a team effort. Merino’s late winner against Belgium marked his second such instance in a World Cup knockout match as a substitute, having also scored the winning goal against Portugal in the Round of 16. Fabian Ruiz has been directly involved in five goals across eight career starts for Spain in major tournaments, showcasing his efficiency.
Belgium’s World Cup Exit
For Belgium, the loss extends a pattern of exiting World Cup knockout ties against fellow European sides. This marks their fourth consecutive loss in such matches, with their last victory against a European opponent at this stage being against Spain in 1986. De Ketelaere’s goal also placed him alongside Romelu Lukaku and Jan Ceulemans as Belgium’s joint-top scorers in World Cup knockout matches, each with three goals.
The injury to Courtois, who was making what was likely his fourth and final World Cup appearance, led to the introduction of Lammens. Lammens, a Manchester United goalkeeper, made a critical error on what was virtually his first test, contributing to Spain’s winning goal. This was only Lammens’s third international appearance.
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Source: nytimes.com