Spain have secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals, defeating Belgium 2-1, with Mikel Merino once again proving to be a decisive player from the bench. His late goal ensured Spain’s progression to the last four of the tournament for only the second time in their history, with their previous semi-final appearance in 2010 culminating in them lifting the trophy.
Merino’s impact was felt in the 88th minute when he scored from a rebound after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens parried a shot from Pau Cubarsi. This marked Merino’s second successive match where he scored a crucial late goal as a substitute. Earlier in the tournament, he scored in stoppage time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16.
The midfielder’s journey to this point has been notable, especially considering an unusual foot injury he sustained in January. This stress fracture kept him out of action and cast doubt on his participation in the World Cup. Despite these setbacks, Merino returned to play just a month before the tournament began and has since become an invaluable member of the Spain squad.
Merino’s decisive contributions
Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s manager, praised Merino, stating, “Mikel is incredible. He has many qualities. He is a player that across the whole World Cup could have played in whatever team and done great. For us he is the standard of this idea, of this model. It is a pleasure to have him, and others but especially him. We know that without fail he is always there.”
Merino himself reflected on his recovery and current form, saying, “The fact of being here a few months ago was unthinkable. Now I am, as I said before, at the highest point, enjoying one of the happiest moments of my career. Now I remember all those bad moments, all the people who have supported me, all the people who have pushed me when even I sometimes found it difficult to believe I could be here.”
The match saw Fabian Ruiz open the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute. However, Belgium‘s Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute with a header, marking the first goal conceded by Spain in the entire World Cup. This goal ended Spain’s record streak of 649 minutes without conceding in the tournament.
Belgium’s goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, entered the game in the 71st minute after Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury. Despite Belgium’s efforts to find an equaliser in the closing minutes, Aymeric Laporte cleared their best opportunity.
Yamal’s role and upcoming challenge
While Merino has been a standout, teenage star Lamine Yamal has yet to fully replicate his performances from the Euro 2024 campaign. He has played six games in this World Cup and scored one goal. Former England striker Wayne Rooney noted that even players like Lionel Messi make wrong decisions at times, and highlighted Yamal’s effectiveness in attracting defenders and creating space for teammates.
Cesar Azpilicueta, a former Spain defender, commented on Yamal’s influence, stating, “It is true that his game has not transferred into goals or assists, but he is very influential in Spain’s game. He wants to create the difference. He is always moving, so I think he has more to give to the team and now is the right time.”
Spain‘s defence has been strong, with the goal conceded against Belgium being their first of the tournament. However, they face a significant challenge in the semi-finals against France, led by Kylian Mbappe. This upcoming fixture will be a tough test for Spain’s backline and will require their attacking players, including Yamal, to perform at their best to alleviate pressure on the defence. The semi-final clash against France is scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas.
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Source: bbc.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”