​Spain struck late to beat Belgium 2-1 on Friday, advancing to a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France after a game decided by a goalkeeping error from Senné Lammens. The European champions will meet a team that has rapidly become a tournament favorite in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday. Spain had to endure a tense afternoon on a hot day at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as Belgium found a way back into the match.
Belgium had recovered from going a goal behind to Fabian Ruiz’s elegant strike on the half-hour, with Charles De Ketelaere leveling on 41 minutes. That goal marked the first Spain had conceded in the tournament. As what looked set to be an extra-time scenario began to unfold, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a 25-yard shot that Lammens could not clasp, and substitute Mikel Merino pounced to poke the rebound home in the 88th minute. It was a crushing moment for the Manchester United goalkeeper, though Merino—who had also delivered the decisive blow to Portugal in the last 16—turned to the massed Spanish fans in the 70,492-strong crowd and celebrated.
Merino spoke afterward of the coincidence of two late goals in consecutive matches, saying, “It seems like a coincidence, and if you go in prepared, it can happen again. I’m thrilled. I doubt it will happen again, we’ll see.” He added that Spain relished the prospect of facing France in the semi-finals, noting, “We came here for this and we’re confident in our abilities. It is one of those games you dream of as a kid.” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente described the semi-final as “a final before the final” given the quality of both teams.
Lammens had started because first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois was injured in the second half, and Courtois went to Lammens to offer comfort at the final whistle. “I gave him a big hug. He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this,” Courtois commented.
Spain had needed that slice of fortune after being kept at bay by the Belgian defence for long spells. Lamine Yamal, who had struggled earlier in the tournament, began to influence matters on Belgium’s right flank with his twisting and turning, and he was named man of the match for his outstanding display. However, France—who routed Morocco 2-0 on Thursday to reach the last four—will have taken note of how rattled the Spanish defence could become at times.
The day was already billed as a red-letter Saturday for World Cup fans, with two more quarter-finals planned. In Miami, Norway were set to face England, a duel that was expected to hinge on the duel between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Haaland had already found the net seven times in his first four World Cup appearances, firing Norway into the quarter-finals for the first time since returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence, while Kane stood one goal away from catching his rival in the hunt for the Golden Boot.
As for Spain, they will take on a France side that looks every bit as formidable as it did when they lifted the trophy four years ago, and they will do so in a setting that promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament—Spain versus France, a clash that could define the balance of power in this World Cup.