Spain secure semifinal spot against France with late goal
Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, with Mikel Merino scoring a decisive goal in the 88th minute. This win sets up a semifinal clash against France, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas.
Merino, who came on as a substitute in the 86th minute, made an immediate impact by scoring from his second touch of the match. The goal occurred after Belgium‘s backup goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, failed to control a shot from Pau Cubarsi from outside the penalty area. Merino capitalised on the rebound, charging into the box to secure the late winner for Spain.
This marks the second consecutive match where Merino has been a late hero for Spain. He previously scored as a substitute in injury time to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16 stage of the tournament. His consistent ability to deliver crucial goals has been a significant factor in Spain‘s progression.
Match Overview
The match saw Spain take an aggressive approach from the start. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute. His goal came after Thibaut Courtois, Belgium‘s primary goalkeeper, parried a shot from Dani Olmo, which originated from Pedro Porro‘s cut-back from the right side of the area. Ruiz then fired the ball between Timothy Castagne‘s legs and into the net.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente‘s decision to start Fabian Ruiz, a Paris St Germain midfielder, ahead of Pedri, was justified by the opening goal. Pedri later entered the game for Ruiz early in the second half. The atmosphere in the sold-out Los Angeles Stadium was largely in favour of Spain, with the crowd erupting after Merino’s late goal.
Belgium responded 11 minutes after Spain‘s opening goal. Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute, heading in a cross from Timothy Castagne. This goal was significant as it marked the first goal conceded by Spain in the entire World Cup tournament, ending a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup.
Injury Challenges for Belgium
Belgium faced significant challenges due to injuries during the match. Their long-time goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was forced to leave the game in the 71st minute with an apparent thigh injury. This led to Manchester United keeper Senne Lammens stepping in as his replacement. It was Lammens who subsequently failed to hold Pau Cubarsi‘s shot, leading to Merino’s winning goal.
Further compounding Belgium‘s injury woes, captain Youri Tielemans was withdrawn from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff due to an injury sustained during the warm-up. Hans Vanaken replaced him. Additionally, Belgium was already without midfielder Amadou Onana, who had suffered an ACL tear in their round-of-16 victory against the United States.
Despite these setbacks, Belgium pressed hard for an equaliser in the final minutes of the match. However, Aymeric Laporte managed to volley their best chance out of the box, preserving Spain‘s lead. The teams battled through oppressive heat, particularly in the first half, before Spain ultimately secured their victory.
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
With this win, Spain will face France in the semifinals. France is considered a tournament favourite, and the match is anticipated to be a significant encounter. The semifinal is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Dallas.
This achievement marks only the second time Spain has reached the semifinals of the World Cup. Their previous semifinal appearance was in 2010, the year they went on to win the tournament. They also finished fourth in 1950 when the final round was a group stage. The sold-out stadium saw several notable attendees, including musicians Courtney Love and Noel Gallagher, and actors Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem.
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Source: aljazeera.com
