Merino's super-sub magic sends Spain into second-ever World Cup semi-final
FIFA World Cup 2026: Mikel Merino came off the bench to score late as Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-final. The win sent Spain into only their second World Cup semi-final and set up a meeting with France.
You can spend 90 minutes frustrating Spain. You can match them tackle for tackle, survive wave after wave of possession, and drag the game to the brink of extra time.
Till Mikel Merino comes off the bench.
Portugal discovered that in the Round of 16. Belgium learnt the same painful lesson on Friday as Merino once again emerged as Spain's knockout hero, pouncing on Senne Lammens' spilled save in the 88th minute to seal a hard-fought 2-1 victory and send La Roja into only the second World Cup semi-final in their history.
Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS
It was another reminder of what Luis de la Fuente's side have become over the past month. They never looked hurried, never abandoned their football and never stopped believing another opening would arrive. Against Belgium, it did, and just as it had 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 blockbuster semi-final against Kylian Mbappe's France, who are chasing a third successive appearance in the World Cup final. If Spain are to end that run, they will need another complete performance. Against Belgium, they showed once again why they have become one of the hardest teams in the tournament to knock out.
YAMAL KEPT ASKING THE QUESTIONS
Spain's brightest player once again finished the evening without the goal his performance probably deserved.
Lamine Yamal spent the first half tormenting Belgium every time he drifted towards the final third. Whether driving directly at defenders, combining with Pedro Porro down the right or cutting inside onto his favoured left foot, the 18-year-old looked the likeliest player to unlock the game. It was no surprise that Spain's opener arrived through his side of the pitch, with Porro's low cross eventually falling kindly for Fabian Ruiz after Dani Olmo's effort had been saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Yet the final touch continued to evade him.
One effort curled agonisingly wide, another forced Courtois into another excellent save, while several promising attacks fizzled out because Yamal either took one touch too many or searched for an extra pass when the shooting chance had already appeared. It has quietly become the only blemish in an otherwise outstanding World Cup campaign.
Having arrived at the tournament carrying a hamstring injury, there are still moments when Yamal looks as though he is managing himself through games. By the closing stages, after another evening of relentlessly stretching Belgium's defence, the youngster understandably looked short of his usual burst. The flair, confidence and imagination remain exactly as they have throughout the tournament, but the ruthless edge in front of goal has surfaced only in flashes. A fully fit Yamal has shown often enough for Barcelona and Spain just how devastating he can be. Right now, he is still doing almost everything except applying the finishing touch himself.
That, however, hardly diminished his influence. Belgium never truly found a way to contain him, and even on a night when he didn't score or assist, Yamal remained the player around whom Spain's attack revolved.
COURTOIS'S TEARFUL GOODBYE
For more than an hour, Belgium remained alive largely because of one man.
Courtois produced another outstanding World Cup performance, 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, moving ahead of Hugo Lloris and behind only Manuel Neuer.
Then came the moment nobody wanted to see.
Shortly before the second-half hydration break, Courtois suddenly pulled up clutching his left thigh. The injury looked innocuous at first, but the Belgian captain's reaction immediately painted a different picture. He left the field in tears, applauded by both sets of supporters, raising fears that one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation may have played his final World Cup match.
His replacement could hardly have faced a tougher introduction.
Senne Lammens, making only his third senior appearance for Belgium, was suddenly tasked with seeing out a World Cup quarter-final. He settled quickly enough, but football can be merciless. When Pau Cubarsi's speculative effort bounced awkwardly in front of him, the young goalkeeper could only push the ball into the six-yard box. Merino reacted before anyone else, smashing home what proved to be the winner.
It was a cruel way for Belgium's campaign to end, particularly after Courtois had spent more than an hour giving his side every chance of reaching the last four.
SPAIN VS FRANCE: THE BIG SEMI-FINAL
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 beginning to look like a side perfectly built for knockout football.
Next comes the biggest examination yet.
France await in Arlington on Tuesday in a semi-final that already feels worthy of the final itself. Kylian Mbappe against Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid's newest superstar against Barcelona's brightest jewel.
France will begin 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 will not be intimidated.
They arrive unbeaten in 36 matches, with their belief growing stronger after every knockout hurdle they clear. They have discovered different match-winners, shown they can absorb pressure when required and, perhaps most importantly, developed the patience to trust that opportunities will eventually come.
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You can spend 90 minutes frustrating Spain. You can match them tackle for tackle, survive wave after wave of possession, and drag the game to the brink of extra time.
Till Mikel Merino comes off the bench.
Portugal discovered that in the Round of 16. Belgium learnt the same painful lesson on Friday as Merino once again emerged as Spain's knockout hero, pouncing on Senne Lammens' spilled save in the 88th minute to seal a hard-fought 2-1 victory and send La Roja into only the second World Cup semi-final in their history.
Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS
It was another reminder of what Luis de la Fuente's side have become over the past month. They never looked hurried, never abandoned their football and never stopped believing another opening would arrive. Against Belgium, it did, and just as it had 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 blockbuster semi-final against Kylian Mbappe's France, who are chasing a third successive appearance in the World Cup final. If Spain are to end that run, they will need another complete performance. Against Belgium, they showed once again why they have become one of the hardest teams in the tournament to knock out.
YAMAL KEPT ASKING THE QUESTIONS
Spain's brightest player once again finished the evening without the goal his performance probably deserved.
Lamine Yamal spent the first half tormenting Belgium every time he drifted towards the final third. Whether driving directly at defenders, combining with Pedro Porro down the right or cutting inside onto his favoured left foot, the 18-year-old looked the likeliest player to unlock the game. It was no surprise that Spain's opener arrived through his side of the pitch, with Porro's low cross eventually falling kindly for Fabian Ruiz after Dani Olmo's effort had been saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Yet the final touch continued to evade him.
One effort curled agonisingly wide, another forced Courtois into another excellent save, while several promising attacks fizzled out because Yamal either took one touch too many or searched for an extra pass when the shooting chance had already appeared. It has quietly become the only blemish in an otherwise outstanding World Cup campaign.
Having arrived at the tournament carrying a hamstring injury, there are still moments when Yamal looks as though he is managing himself through games. By the closing stages, after another evening of relentlessly stretching Belgium's defence, the youngster understandably looked short of his usual burst. The flair, confidence and imagination remain exactly as they have throughout the tournament, but the ruthless edge in front of goal has surfaced only in flashes. A fully fit Yamal has shown often enough for Barcelona and Spain just how devastating he can be. Right now, he is still doing almost everything except applying the finishing touch himself.
That, however, hardly diminished his influence. Belgium never truly found a way to contain him, and even on a night when he didn't score or assist, Yamal remained the player around whom Spain's attack revolved.
COURTOIS'S TEARFUL GOODBYE
For more than an hour, Belgium remained alive largely because of one man.
Courtois produced another outstanding World Cup performance, 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, moving ahead of Hugo Lloris and behind only Manuel Neuer.
Then came the moment nobody wanted to see.
Shortly before the second-half hydration break, Courtois suddenly pulled up clutching his left thigh. The injury looked innocuous at first, but the Belgian captain's reaction immediately painted a different picture. He left the field in tears, applauded by both sets of supporters, raising fears that one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation may have played his final World Cup match.
His replacement could hardly have faced a tougher introduction.
Senne Lammens, making only his third senior appearance for Belgium, was suddenly tasked with seeing out a World Cup quarter-final. He settled quickly enough, but football can be merciless. When Pau Cubarsi's speculative effort bounced awkwardly in front of him, the young goalkeeper could only push the ball into the six-yard box. Merino reacted before anyone else, smashing home what proved to be the winner.
It was a cruel way for Belgium's campaign to end, particularly after Courtois had spent more than an hour giving his side every chance of reaching the last four.
SPAIN VS FRANCE: THE BIG SEMI-FINAL
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 beginning to look like a side perfectly built for knockout football.
Next comes the biggest examination yet.
France await in Arlington on Tuesday in a semi-final that already feels worthy of the final itself. Kylian Mbappe against Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid's newest superstar against Barcelona's brightest jewel.
France will begin 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 will not be intimidated.
They arrive unbeaten in 36 matches, with their belief growing stronger after every knockout hurdle they clear. They have discovered different match-winners, shown they can absorb pressure when required and, perhaps most importantly, developed the patience to trust that opportunities will eventually come.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
