This was a story of three goalkeepers and two impactful substitutes. Leading up to this quarterfinal clash against Belgium, Spain’s Unai Simon had impressively guarded his net for 649 consecutive World Cup minutes, a streak that began during the group matches in Qatar.
In stark contrast, Thibaut Courtois faced an abrupt end to his World Cup journey when his body failed him. At 34, Courtois left the field midway through the second half, grasping his thigh in pain and displaying evident frustration. As emotions ran high, questions arose about whether this might be the final curtain call for him and the remaining veterans of Belgium’s celebrated golden era in international football.
The game’s fortunes were uncertain when Courtois departed, making way for Senne Lammens. His entrance marked his first World Cup appearance, but it swiftly turned challenging for the Manchester United keeper. With extra time looming, he failed to hold onto a shot launched by teenager Pau Cubarsi.
Seizing the opportunity, Mikel Merino, fresh off the bench after scoring a crucial stoppage-time goal against Portugal in the previous round, promptly capitalized on the fumble. In just minutes on the pitch, he solidified his status as the match-winning hero once more.
As a result, Spain is set to face France in an eagerly anticipated semifinal next week. Conversely, Belgium returns home with the disappointment of two goalkeepers nursing their injuries and dashed World Cup dreams.
After the game, Courtois insisted ‘had no problem with staying in goal… only for long kicks’ but ‘the manager decided to take me off.’
Substitute Mikel Merino was Spain’s hero once more as they beat Belgium in dramatic fashion
The midfielder scored with two minutes left after a dreadful error by Senne Lammens
Manchester United goalkeeper Lammens had a World Cup debut to forget in this quarterfinal
Rudi Garcia defended his decision. ‘From the beginning of the World Cup I didn’t want players who weren’t 100 per cent,’ he said. ‘We didn’t want his injury to worsen either so I decided to sub him.’
Never before had a country reached the sixth game of a men’s World Cup without being breached. But from back to front, with and without the ball, this Spain team suffocates opponents.
En route to this quarterfinal, they had allowed just five shots on target. It took Belgium 41 minutes to add to that number. But they made it count.
Charles De Ketelaere broke American hearts in the last 16 and here he hurt Spain, too, heading home shortly before halftime to bring Belgium level.
Fabian Ruiz had been preferred in midfield to Pedri as Luis de la Fuente shuffled his pack and that tweak looked to have paid off when Ruiz put Spain in front. But in the end, they needed a helping hand to reach a first semifinal since 2010. No one needs reminding what Spain did that summer.
It was still morning in Los Angeles when the wrinkling face of Michael Buffer appeared on the 360-degree screen of SoFi Stadium. The 81-year-old voice of boxing was beamed in to introduce the two teams and light the fuse ahead of this heavyweight rumble.
By then, though, we were already a man down: Belgium captain Youri Tielemans had hurt himself in the warm-up.
Neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Jeremy Doku started against America and their return here spoke surely to an acceptance that Belgium would see little of the ball. So whenever Spain did cough it up, Garcia needed as much individual brilliance on the pitch as possible.
Thibaut Courtois appeared overcome with emotion after coming off injured in the second half
Fabian Ruiz had given Spain a first-half lead before they conceded a first goal of the World Cup
Charles De Ketelaere levelled the game for Belgium, beating Unai Simon with a header
It took all of a few minutes for the die to be cast: Spain set up camp inside the Belgium half, while their opponents searched for a way to stem the tide.
Early on, Doku’s quivering feet appeared to be about Belgium’s only avenue out.
In fairness, they did stifle Spain for much of the first half. For all their possession and control, De la Fuente’s side created very little.
A Mexican Wave went round SoFi Stadium before we had reached the first hydration break.
Unfortunately for Belgium, the dam burst shortly after they took on water. Ruiz made no mistake after Dani Olmo’s shot was palmed into his path by Courtois.
Belgium had been carved open by Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro and, after taking the lead, Spain threatened to move through the gears. Then, out of nowhere, De Ketelaere equalised.
It was Belgium’s first effort on target from virtually their first sustained spell in Spain territory. De Ketelaere beat Cubarsi to Timothy Castagne’s cross.
That put Spain in uncharted waters at this tournament: how would De la Fuente’s side react to conceding?
Merino, who also scored a late winner against Portugal, celebrates his goal in Los Angeles
Well, they simply picked up where they left off – poking and probing around the Belgium area.
But as time ticked by, as both coaches turned to their bench, this game began to open up and Belgium had chances too.
Maxim De Cuyper fired into the side netting shortly before the ball struck Rodri’s arm inside the penalty area. Belgium’s penalty appeals were waved away by Michael Oliver.
Then, with no warning, Courtois went down and Lammens, 24, became the first goalkeeper other than the Real Madrid star to play for Belgium at the World Cup since 2002. Before long, though, this became a debut to forget.
‘It is crazy to be able to help the team once again, this time in a different way, but at the same time believing, trusting that a mistake by the rival goalkeeper can happen and being attentive,’ Merino said.