​Spain will take on Belgium in the second quarter-final of this World Cup on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals to meet France. The match is set for Friday, July 10, with a 8:00 pm BST kickoff, at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, USA.
Spain’s squad faces several injury concerns as they head into this clash. Nico Williams remains the biggest worry for manager Luis de la Fuente, as the winger continues to battle an adductor injury picked up against Uruguay. Additionally, Yéremy Pino is unlikely to feature again in this tournament after sustaining a severe collarbone injury. Victor Muñoz remains sidelined with a lingering leg muscle problem, which increases the likelihood that Álex Baena will retain his starting place on the left wing to provide creative coverage. In defense, Pedro Porro is anticipated to start over Marcos Llorente, keeping his place in the backline. The rest of the defensive setup is expected to rely on Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte to maintain stability against Belgium’s potent forward line.
Belgium, meanwhile, have faced a serious setback in midfield. Amadou Onana has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to an ACL rupture suffered during the Round of 16 victory over the United States. coach Rudi Garcia now has to decide between Hans Vanaken and another option to fill the defensive midfield void alongside Youri Tielemans. In defence, Zeno Debast remains unavailable due to injury, which means Belgium will lean on Brandon Mechele and Nathan Ngoy in central defence.
On a more encouraging note for Belgium, talisman Kevin De Bruyne is expected to return to the starting XI after being benched tactically in the previous match. Up front, Charles De Ketelaere is anticipated to operate as a dynamic false nine, while Romelu Lukaku could be used as a high-impact substitute in the second half to supply physical presence.
Spain enter this match in pristine form, boasting an impressive 36-match competitive unbeaten run under Luis de la Fuente. Their greatest strength lies in a disciplined, historically stingy defense that has yet to concede a goal in this World Cup. After a goalless opening draw against Cape Verde, La Roja built momentum with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win against Uruguay. Their defense remained unbreached in the knockout rounds, sweeping aside Austria 3-0 and edging Portugal 1-0.
Belgium arrive in the quarter-finals on the back of an 18-game unbeaten streak, characterized by explosive offensive capabilities. While their defense has shown vulnerabilities—conceding five goals over their last six matches—their attack has been prolific, averaging 2.83 goals per game. In the group stage, Belgium drew with Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0) before hammering New Zealand 5-1. They found their stride in the knockout rounds, narrowly defeating Senegal 3-2 before routing the United States 4-1.
For Spain, the probable starting XI features Simon in goal, with a backline including Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, and Cucurella. The midfield duo is likely to comprise Rodri and Pedri, with Baena continuing to provide width and creative thrust on the left. Spain’s tactical configuration will aim to exploit Belgium’s vulnerabilities in midfield and defense while maintaining the compact, organized structure that has defined their tournament run.
The stakes are high as two capable sides meet for a place in the semi-finals. Spain will seek to extend their remarkable unbeaten run and continue their tight defensive record, while Belgium will look to unleash their attacking talent and break through Spain’s sturdy rearguard to book a date with France in the last four.