​Spain handled business in Los Angeles, overturning Belgium with a 2-1 victory to advance to the World Cup semifinals. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and Charles De Ketelaere leveled before the break with a well-timed header. Mikel Merino delivered the decisive moment in the 88th minute, finishing off a rebound to seal Spain’s win and propel them into Tuesday’s highly anticipated semifinal against France.
This match carried a sense of near-historic significance for Thibaut Courtois, who may be facing the end of his World Cup journey after a game that will be remembered for what could have been. After Belgium conceded the opener on a rebound, Courtois settled in, producing four crucial saves that offered a flicker of hope for his teammates. His world-class positioning and reaction saves were on full display against a Spain side that deftly manipulated space and kept the Belgian netminder under constant pressure. Tragically, Courtois was forced off in the 71st minute due to injury, and his replacement could not preserve the late lead, allowing Spain to seize control and clinch the win.
The match highlighted Spain’s elite ball movement and control, with 68 percent possession and a display of precise passing from a squad that thrives on balance and tempo. Rodri, crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, orchestrated play from deep, distributing with precision across 118 touches and a 94 percent pass completion rate while contributing defensively. His work helped quiet Belgium’s threat and allowed teammates like Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo to blunt Kevin De Bruyne’s influence in midfield.
De Ketelaere’s goal was a standout moment in World Cup history, marking the first time a Belgian player has successfully breached Spain’s defense in the tournament. The sequence relied on a few perfectly timed passes that kept Belgium minimally onside, enabling De Ketelaere to slip in behind Pau Cubarsí and deliver a clinical header past Unai Simón. The goal represented Belgium’s single clear-cut opportunity in a tightly contested match, as Romelu Lukaku’s magic touch rarely materialized into dangerous chances.
For the second match running, Merino emerged as Spain’s hero off the bench. Substituting in at the 86th minute, he pounced just two minutes later on a rebound after Cubarsí’s initial shot bounced off Sene Lammens, converting with efficiency. The substitute’s appearance was brief yet impactful, as he touched the ball only three times but used them to find the back of the net and secure the win for Spain.