Mikel Merino’s left boot has become the latest instrument of Spain’s World Cup progression. Two knockout games, two goals from the Arsenal midfielder, and another European heavyweight dispatched in the process. This time, it was Belgium’s turn to feel the weight of Merino’s precision, as a calamitous error from substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens gifted Spain a 2-1 victory in Los Angeles and a semi-final date with France in Dallas.
How a moment of madness undid Belgium
Thibaut Courtois, one of the world’s most reliable shot-stoppers, was forced off with a thigh injury 20 minutes from time. His replacement, Lammens, had barely settled when Pau Cubarsi’s 35-yard drive cannoned off the Belgian wall. The ball rebounded directly to Merino, who reacted quickest to fire home and seal Spain’s passage to the last four. The error was inexplicable: Lammens’ inability to hold the ball left it rolling tamely into the path of an unmarked Merino, who made no mistake. Belgium, who had dominated possession in spells and fashioned half-chances, will replay this moment in their minds long after the final whistle.
Spain’s relentless march, but not without fragility
Spain’s 36-game unbeaten run in competitive matches remains intact, yet their clean-sheet record—650 World Cup minutes without conceding—ended in California. The European champions survived a nervy second half, with Belgium pressing for an equaliser that never quite arrived. The crowd of 70,000, overwhelmingly Spanish, roared their team forward, but the performance lacked the fluency that has defined this tournament so far. Still, progression matters more than perfection. A semi-final against a France side featuring Kylian Mbappé awaits, and Spain will need to tighten their defensive resolve if they are to reach a second World Cup final in their history.
The tactical shift that changed the game
Belgium’s substitution of Courtois for Lammens was a gamble born of necessity, not choice. The change exposed a vulnerability in their backline, one that Merino exploited with ruthless efficiency. Spain, meanwhile, relied on their midfield control to weather the storm, with Merino’s 88th-minute strike puncturing Belgian resolve. The contrast was stark: Belgium’s attacking intent, orchestrated by Kevin De Bruyne in the final third, versus Spain’s clinical opportunism. Luis de la Fuente’s side may not have been at their best, but they were once again the last team standing, their path to a potential second World Cup title remaining wide open.
For Belgium, the pain of this defeat will linger. Their campaign ends with a defeat they barely deserved, given their dominance in spells and the missed chances of players like Romelu Lukaku. For Spain, the reward is a semi-final showdown with France—a clash of European titans that promises fireworks in Dallas. Merino’s moment of glory has once again rewritten the script, and the road to a second World Cup title remains wide open.
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