Merino strikes again as Spain edge past Belgium

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·10 de julho de 2026

Merino strikes again as Spain edge past Belgium

Spain advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-final with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Belgium in Los Angeles. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring at 30 minutes before Charles De Ketelaere headed in the equalizer at 41 minutes, setting up a tense second half with the sides deadlocked.

The decisive moment came when substitute Mikel Merino struck at 88 minutes, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error from Senne Lammens to send Spain through and eliminate Belgium at the quarter-final stage. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Spain v Belgium.

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Winners

Mikel Merino (Spain)

Mikel Merino proved Spain's most decisive weapon once again, scoring the match-winning goal just two minutes after entering the pitch at 86 minutes. His 88th-minute strike sent Spain into the World Cup semi-final and ended Belgium's tournament hopes with ruthless efficiency.

The goal came from predatory instinct as Merino positioned himself perfectly when goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold Pau Cubarsí's shot. He reacted quickest to the loose ball and converted the rebound without hesitation to make it Spain 2–1 Belgium.

This was a carbon copy of Merino's impact in the previous round, where he scored the winner against Portugal in similar circumstances. His ability to deliver in crucial knockout moments from the bench has made him Spain's tournament talisman heading into the semi-final against France.

Rodri (Spain)

Rodri captained Spain with a commanding midfield display that controlled the tempo and rhythm of the entire contest. His positioning disrupted Belgian transitions throughout, and he remained central to virtually every Spanish possession sequence across the full 90 minutes.

The midfielder provided crucial defensive recoveries when Belgium attempted to break quickly, often dropping between the centre-backs to facilitate buildups. His shot at 10 minutes was blocked by Nathan Ngoy but demonstrated his willingness to support attacks beyond his holding role.

Rodri's leadership and discipline in the middle of the park gave Spain the platform to sustain pressure and eventually find the winning goal. His concentration never wavered, epitomizing Spain's control of a match they dominated with 68 percent possession.

Loser

Senne Lammens (Belgium)

Senne Lammens committed the critical error that eliminated Belgium from the World Cup, failing to hold Pau Cubarsí's shot at 88 minutes and allowing Mikel Merino to convert the rebound. The mistake proved decisive in what was his first significant World Cup action.

The goalkeeper had entered at 71 minutes after Thibaut Courtois suffered a left thigh injury, replacing a goalkeeper who had made several crucial saves to keep Belgium level. His inability to secure what appeared a routine effort handed Spain the winner.

Belgium had defended resolutely to reach the closing stages at 1–1, but Lammens' error undid their efforts in devastating fashion. The mistake directly cost Belgium their place in the semi-finals, making him the unfortunate figure in their quarter-final exit.