Merino's super-sub strike sinks Belgium as Spain reach first semi since 2010

On Friday at SoFi Stadium, Spain beat Belgium 2-1 to reach the World Cup semifinal for the first time since 2010, and did it in the cruelest way possible for the loser: their own substitute goalkeeper handed Spain the winner less than 20 minutes after taking the gloves. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, Charles De Ketelaere headed Belgium level in the 41st, and Mikel Merino needed just under two minutes off the bench to settle it in the 88th, poking home the rebound after Senne Lammens spilled a Pau Cubarsí shot.

A goalkeeping change nobody wanted

The whole final act traces back to the 71st minute, when Thibaut Courtois went down in pain taking a goal kick and had to be helped off in tears, done for the tournament with a quad injury. Lammens came on cold into a World Cup quarterfinal and, 17 minutes later, watched Cubarsí’s shot bounce straight back out to Merino. Rough way to make a first impression. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia did not dodge it afterward, saying the team had “nothing to be ashamed of” but admitting the plan had already come apart before that: Youri Tielemans was scratched with an injury in the warmup, Kevin De Bruyne had to be substituted, and now the keeper too. “We lost our keeper, our captain,” he said. “That wasn’t part of the game plan.”

Spain set up a first meeting with France

The result sends Spain to Arlington to face France on Tuesday, their first meeting of this tournament. Coach Luis de la Fuente was not shy about Spain’s chances: “It’s fair to think we can beat France… we’re the only team that has managed to beat them twice.” Lamine Yamal was the most dangerous player on the pitch all night, six shots and four successful dribbles, before Merino stole his headlines with the sub cameo that actually won the game. For Belgium, a golden generation built around De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku goes home instead, its last shot at a major trophy likely gone with it.

Semifinal: Spain vs France, Tuesday, July 14, AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

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