Spain Beats France to Reach World Cup Semi

A Late Merino Goal Sends Spain Through

Mikel Merino, a little‑known midfielder, delivered a dramatic late strike that sent Spain past France 2‑1 in a quarter‑final thriller at SoFi Stadium. The Arsenal man, who also netted a stoppage‑time winner against Portugal on Monday, rose to the occasion as a second‑half substitute and powered home the rebound after Belgium’s debut keeper Senne Lammens failed to hold a shot. Spain’s victory ensures a blockbuster clash with the French side featuring Kylian Mbappé on Tuesday.

Spain opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Fabian Ruiz combined with Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo, before Ruiz calmly slotted home after Thibaut Courtois parried the ball. Belgium responded quickly, with Kevin De Bruyne threading a pass to Timothy Castagne, whose cross found Charles De Ketelaere to head in the first goal Spain had conceded in the tournament. The Red Devils, weakened by injuries to Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana, rallied but could not prevent Merino’s 78th‑minute winner.

Belgium’s Mysterious Quarter‑final Collapse

Belgium entered the match with a severely compromised midfield after losing Amadou Onana to an ACL tear and watching captain Youri Tielemans hobble off during warm‑ups with a hamstring issue. Despite the setbacks, Romelu Lukaku’s introduction and the creative spark of De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku kept hope alive for the “Golden Generation.” Yet a costly blunder by debut keeper Lammens, brought on after Courtois was forced off due to injury, turned the momentum in Spain’s favor.

The Belgian keeper’s nightmarish cameo was highlighted when a shot from Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal hit the post, and later when a shot from Pau Cubarsi sneaked past Lammens, allowing Merino to steal the rebound and secure Spain’s place in the semi‑finals. Courtois, visibly upset, embraced his struggling teammate as the final whistle echoed, while Spain celebrated with embraces and fist pumps.

What This Means for Spain’s Next Steps

Spain’s progression sets up a high‑stakes duel with France, a team that boasts a red‑hot Kylian Mbappé and a reputation as tournament favorites. The Spanish squad will look to replicate the possession mastery that dominated Belgium, building on the balanced attack that featured Ruiz, Olmo, and the dynamic Yamal. Their quarter‑final success also adds to the narrative of a deep run for a nation that has consistently performed at World Cups.

For Belgium, the loss marks another chapter in a waning era for the ageing “Golden Generation.” With key midfielders sidelined and a debut goalkeeper facing a nightmare, the Red Devils will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities and recover lost players before the next international window. The defeat, however, leaves a legacy of valiant effort against one of the tournament’s top sides.