Merino super-sub magic sends Spain into second World Cup semi-final
You can spend 90 minutes frustrating Spain. You can battle them, survive wave after wave of possession and take the game to the brink of overtime.
Then Mikel Merino comes off the bench.
Portugal saw Belgium learn the same painful lesson in the round of 16 on Friday as Merino again proved to be Spain’s elimination hero, pouncing on Senne Lammense’s 88th-minute spot-kick to seal a hard-fought 2-1 victory and send La Roja into just their second World Cup semi-final.
Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS
It was another reminder of what Luis de la Fuente’s party has become over the past month. They never looked rushed, never abandoned their football and never stopped believing that the next opening would come. It worked against Belgium and, like against Portugal, Merino was waiting to make it count.
The victory also extended Spain’s unbeaten run to a record 36 matches and set up a sensational semi-final against Kylian Mbappe’s France, who are seeking a third successive appearance at the World Cup finals. Spain will need another complete performance if they are to end this run. Against Belgium, they showed again why they have become one of the toughest teams in the tournament. Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne played arguably his last World Cup match, if not an international one overall. (Photo: Reuters)
YAMAL FURTHER ASKED QUESTIONS
Spain’s brightest player again finished the evening without a goal, his performance was probably deserved.
Lamine Yamal spent the first half tormenting Belgium every time he got into the final third. Whether driving straight at a defender, combining with Pedro Porro on the right or cutting inside onto his favored left foot, the 18-year-old seemed the most likely player to unlock the game. It was no surprise that the Spain playmaker arrived across his side of the pitch, with Porro’s low cross eventually falling kindly for Fabian Ruiz after Dani Olmo’s effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Yet the last touch continued to elude him.
One effort curled agonizingly, another forced Courtois into another excellent save, while several promising attacks fizzled as Yamal either took one touch too many or looked for another pass when a chance to shoot had already presented itself. It has quietly become the only blemish on an otherwise excellent World Cup campaign.
After arriving at the tournament with a hamstring injury, there are still moments when Yamal looks like he’s holding his own in games. In the closing stages, after another evening of tirelessly stretching the Belgian defence, the youngster understandably fell short of his usual dose. Talent, confidence and imagination remain exactly as they were throughout the tournament, but a ruthless edge in front of goal has only appeared in flashes. A fully fit Yamal has shown enough times for Barcelona and Spain just how devastating he can be. Right now he still does almost everything except apply the finish himself.
However, this hardly diminished his influence. Belgium never really found a way to contain him, and even on a night where he didn’t score or assist, Yamal remained the player Spain’s offense revolved around. Yamal’s move against Belgium was brilliant but the final touch eluded him. (Photo: Reuters)
COURTOIS’S WEEPING FAREWELL
For more than an hour, Belgium stayed alive mainly thanks to one man.
Courtois produced another outstanding performance at the World Cup, denying Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Olmo while repeatedly frustrating Spain’s relentless attacks. The Real Madrid goalkeeper also became only the second goalkeeper in history to make 21 World Cup appearances, ahead of Hugo Lloris and only Manuel Neuer. Courtois was forced off through injury in what is likely to be his final FIFA World Cup match. (Photo: Reuters)
Then came the moment no one wanted to see.
Shortly before the second-half hydration break, Courtois suddenly stood up and clutched his left thigh. The injury looked harmless at first, but the Belgium captain’s reaction immediately painted a different picture. He left the field in tears, applauded by both sets of supporters, prompting fears that one of the best goalkeepers of his generation may have played his last World Cup game.
His successor could hardly face a tougher introduction.
Senne Lammens, who started for Belgium for only the third time among the seniors, suddenly had the task of watching the quarter-finals of the World Cup. He settled quickly enough, but football can be merciless. When Pau Cubarsi’s speculative effort bounced awkwardly in front of him, the young goalkeeper only had to push the ball into the penalty area. Merino responded before anyone else and smashed home what proved to be the game-winner. Lammens made a mistake that led to Spain’s Merino’s decisive goal. (Photo: Reuters)
It was a cruel way for Belgium to finish, especially after Courtois spent more than an hour giving his side a chance to reach the last four.
SPAIN VS. FRANCE: GRAND SEMI-FINALS
Spain are back in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. More importantly, they are starting to look like a team perfectly built for knockout football.
The biggest examination so far follows.
France faces a semi-final on Tuesday in Arlington that already feels worthy of the final itself. Kylian Mbappe vs Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid’s newest superstar against Barcelona’s brightest jewel.
France will start as many people’s favourites. Didier Deschamps’ side have reached the last two World Cup finals and Mbappe has looked simply irresistible throughout this tournament.
But Spain is not afraid.
They arrive unbeaten in 36 games and their belief grows stronger with each elimination hurdle they clear. They’ve discovered a variety of match-winners, shown they can absorb pressure when needed and, perhaps most importantly, developed the patience to believe that opportunities will eventually come.
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– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
11 Jul 2026 03:55 IST