​Rewritten article:
In INGLEWOOD, Calif., Spain’s Mikel Merino seized on a costly mistake by Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper to swing the World Cup quarterfinal in his team’s favor. With the score deadlocked in the 88th minute Friday, Belgium’s Senne Lammens spilled a routine shot in the penalty area just moments after stepping onto the pitch for the injured Thibaut Courtois. Merino reacted fastest, hammering the rebound into the net to propel Spain to a 2-1 win and a spot in the semifinals. It marked Merino’s second decisive goal for his country in as many matches, following his off-the-bench winner against Portugal in the round of 16 during extra time.
Merino’s late heroics ensure that the World Cup’s most tantalizing potential matchup is now a reality. Spain and France are set to meet on Tuesday in a heavyweight semifinal, a pairing fans have anticipated since the tournament began. Both nations entered the summer as co-favorites, and have largely lived up to the hype with their contrasting strengths. France has been explosive in one-on-one situations, lethal on the break, and powered by a blend of athleticism and pace. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have tallied 13 goals between them, while Michael Olise has added clever distribution and vision, prompting bookmakers and pundits to declare France the team to beat.
But Spain, renowned for its possession-dominant, technically refined style, poses a formidable challenge. The Spaniards are unbeaten in their last 36 matches, a testament to their ability to control games and curb opponents’ scoring opportunities. Before facing Belgium, Spain had not conceded a goal in this World Cup, underscoring their defensive resilience and disciplined approach to matches.
The rivalry between Spain and France has intensified in recent years as their clashes have grown more consequential. France edged Spain 2-1 in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, while Spain soon avenged that result in the European Championship semifinals three years later, thanks in part to a spectacular long-range strike from Lamine Yamal that found the net off the post. The Spaniards also eliminated the French in a high-scoring Nations League semifinal last year, further stoking the tension between the two nations.
Earlier in the tournament, when Yamal was asked whether France was operating at a higher level than Spain, he shot back with a confident retort: “No.” He explained, “They haven’t beaten us since the Euros. They can’t be better than us. They’re at an excellent level, have wonderful players, but I don’t think they’re above anyone. For me, there’s no one above Spain.”
To prove that point, Spain had to survive a stern test against a Belgium side once considered past its peak. Belgium finished atop their group, rallied late to defeat Senegal in the round of 32, and then outclassed the United States in the round of 16 in front of a boisterous Seattle crowd. Belgium’s aspirations for an upset suffered a major blow when Lammens mishandled a routine save in the closing minutes, allowing Merino to turn the moment into a dramatic playoff for the semifinals. The result sets up a clash that fans have long anticipated, with Spain aiming to maintain their remarkable unbeaten run and France seeking to confirm their status as the era’s dominant force. The semifinal matchup promises to be a test of Spain’s methodical control against France’s explosive firepower, a contest many observers believe could decide this World Cup’s outcome.