Spain beat Belgium 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, with a late goal from Mikel Merino the winner.
Mikel Merino Saves Spain Again: 4 Key Takeaways From
According to Foxsports.
Background
Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute, again proved himself as a key figure for Spain with a decisive goal in the final minutes. His role in this match demonstrated his ability to have a significant impact, which is crucial for this season and Spain's hopes at the upcoming World Cup.
Why this is important
Spain's victory over Belgium not only secured their place in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, but also extended their unbeaten run to 35 matches. Mikel Merino, who was a hero again, showed how important his role is in the team, especially at crucial moments. With this performance, Spain shows that they are ready to compete for the title again, after last doing so in 2010.
Main Points
- Mikel Merino Saves Spain Again: 4 Key Takeaways from.
- Spain beat Belgium 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, with a late goal from Mikel Merino the winner.
- Mikel Merino remains central to Spain's plans.
On Friday in Los Angeles, Spain continued their impressive record against Belgium, with another win coming in the final minutes. Goals from Fabián Ruiz and a decisive goal from Mikel Merino who came on as a substitute secured a 2-1 victory and a place in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Spain are now unbeaten in 12 matches against Belgium, including six wins in a row with an aggregate score of 14-1. Additionally, they are also unbeaten in 35 matches in all competitions, equaling their longest such streak. For Belgium, their chances were already tough before the match started, especially with several prominent injuries, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who was forced to leave the field due to a thigh injury. Despite this, the Red team continued to put up strong resistance and managed to score a goal, which was the only goal they scored against Spain in the World Cup after 649 minutes without conceding. In the end, Spain advanced to the semifinals, their first appearance at this stage since 2010 when La Roja won the title. Here are four important things from Spain's victory over Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals.
1. **Mikel Merino Saves Again**
Mikel Merino showed his worth once again by scoring a late winner, this time just under two minutes after coming on. This was another example of Merino's incredible ability to score crucial goals for club and country. Even though he is not a striker, coach Luis de la Fuente knows very well the threat that Merino brings in every match.
2. **Belgium Faces Many Difficulties**
Before the match started, Belgium already faced problems when Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury. The problem worsened when Youri Tielemans also suffered an injury during the warm-up, leaving Belgium's midfield very short of players. Against Spain who have a strong midfield strength, losing Tielemans is very detrimental. Despite fighting hard, their best goalkeeper, Courtois, was forced off in the 71st minute, adding to the Reds' difficulties. They were forced to change their strategy to a more direct attacking game.
3. **Jeremy Doku vs. Lamine Yamal**
Jérémy Doku is known for his deadly dribbling abilities, but in this match, he also had to play a role in helping his teammates, especially left back Maxim De Cuyper, in anticipating the threat from Lamine Yamal who plays on Spain's right wing. Although Yamal is yet to score a goal in this tournament, Doku managed to lessen his impact and ensure that the talented youngster does not get his shining moments in this match.
4. **Spain Prepares for Biggest Test: France**
This win would not only mean progress to the semifinals, but also avoid extra time which is crucial considering France will have one more day of rest before their game on Tuesday. De La Fuente will certainly take advantage of every available moment of recovery. This upcoming match is expected to be an exciting match, similar to last year's Nations League semi-final, which ended with a score of 5-4 in favor of Spain. This will be their first World Cup meeting since 2006, when France won 3-1 and then lost the final against Italy after the infamous Zidane and Materazzi incident.
What happened next
By advancing to the semifinals, Spain is now preparing to face the next challenge at the 2026 World Cup. This team is expected to maintain their positive momentum and solid performance, especially with contributions from players like Mikel Merino. Meanwhile, Belgium must evaluate their strategy and squad ahead of upcoming tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup, to return to competing at the highest level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the goal for Spain in the match against Belgium?
Fabián Ruiz and Mikel Merino scored for Spain.
What is the final score of the match Spain vs Belgium?
The final score of the match was 2-1 in favor of Spain.
What impact will this victory have on Spain's position in the 2026 World Cup?
This victory ensures that Spain advances to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.
When is the next match for Spain after Belgium?
Information about the next match for Spain has not been mentioned in the article.
How long did Spain go unbeaten against Belgium?
Spain are unbeaten in 12 matches against Belgium, including six wins in a row.
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