Spain’s Last-Minute Victory Over Belgium Secures Semifinal Clash with France
Poinews.com – In a thrilling encounter on Friday, Spain secured a dramatic win against Belgium, advancing to the World Cup semifinals. The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Mikel Merino capitalized on a defensive error by Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, converting a loose ball into the net for the winning goal.
Spain took an early lead in the 30th minute through a goal by Fabián Ruiz, who found the back of the net after a deflected shot from the Belgian keeper. The team dominated possession in the first half, with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal creating several chances on the right flank. His effort, however, narrowly missed the target as the half ended in a 1-1 draw.
Belgium responded swiftly, equalizing just 11 minutes after halftime. Charles De Ketelaere’s header from a set piece brought the visitors level, marking Spain’s first conceding goal of the tournament. Luis de la Fuente made tactical adjustments in the second half, introducing Pedri and Ferran Torres to revitalize the attack. Despite these changes, Spain struggled to maintain momentum.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 71st minute when Courtois suffered an injury and was replaced by Senne Lammens. With the game heading toward extra time, Lammens failed to stop a shot from Pau Cubarsí, allowing Merino to finish the rebound and seal a 2-1 triumph for La Roja.
Semifinal Matchup and Future Prospects
Spain will now face France, led by Didier Deschamps, in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas. The French team has been a standout performer throughout the tournament. If Spain progresses, they could face England, Norway, Argentina, or Switzerland in the final, with England set to take on Norway in Miami on Saturday and Argentina challenging Switzerland in Kansas City.
