Spain Defeats Belgium 2-1 to Reach World Cup Semifinal
Ethan Moore 
Key Takeaways:
- Spain secured a 2-1 victory over Belgium with a late goal.
- Mikel Merino scored the decider against backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
- Spain will face France in the upcoming World Cup semifinal.
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, advancing to the FIFA World Cup semifinals for only the second time. Mikel Merino scored the decisive late goal to secure the victory. The win sets up a semifinal matchup against France on Tuesday.
Injuries Impact Belgium's Defense
Belgium faced significant setbacks due to injuries affecting their starting lineup. Captain Youri Tielemans was scratched before kickoff after sustaining an injury during warmups, a sudden change that affected live odds for those using a sports betting sign-up bonus. Tielemans had been crucial to Belgium's run, featuring in every group stage match and scoring twice in a 3-2 comeback win over Senegal in the round of 32.
The situation worsened in the 71st minute when starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was substituted after appearing slow to get up following a clearance. Backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens replaced Courtois and was soon tested. Lammens spilled a long-distance shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound and finish into the roof of the net.
Spain's Historic Unbeaten Run Continues
The quarterfinal victory extended Spain's unbeaten streak to a national record of 36 games, placing them just one match behind Italy's all-time record of 37. Earlier in the game, Spain took the lead when Fabián Ruiz tapped in a rebound following buildup play involving Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, and Dani Olmo. The match marked a milestone for Yamal, who made his sixth appearance, the most ever by a player aged 18 or under at a World Cup, drawing the kind of global wagering interest usually seen in Rugby World Cup betting.
Despite Spain's early dominance, Belgium managed to break Unai Simón's clean sheet before halftime. Charles De Ketelaere scored a glancing header off a Timothy Castagne cross. This goal ended Spain's 650-minute scoreless streak at the World Cup that stretched back to 2022, when Ao Tanaka scored against them in the group stage in Qatar, a reminder of the unpredictable outcomes often found in FIFA World Cup betting.
