Mikel Merino has done it again. For the second consecutive World Cup knockout game, the Arsenal midfielder came off the bench to score a late winner — this time punishing a catastrophic error by Belgium's substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens to send Spain into a semi-final showdown with France.
Thibaut Courtois, one of the world's greatest goalkeepers, had trudged off in tears 20 minutes from time with a thigh injury. His replacement, Manchester United's Lammens, was unable to hold Pau Cubarsi's long-range effort in the dying minutes, spilling the ball into Merino's path. The Spaniard smashed the rebound into the roof of the net two minutes from time, securing a 2-1 victory at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
“Mikel Merino scores late winner as Spain beat Belgium 2-1 after Thibaut Courtois injury and goalkeeper error.”
Spain had taken the lead on the half-hour mark when Fabian Ruiz tucked home a close-range shot after Courtois palmed Dani Olmo's effort into his path. It was the first goal Belgium had conceded in the tournament, but they responded before half-time through Charles De Ketelaere, who nodded home a cross to level the scores.
Belgium had already been dealt a blow before kick-off when captain Youri Tielemans pulled out injured during the warm-up. Then came Courtois's departure, which ultimately proved decisive.
Merino, who scored the winner against Portugal in the previous round after just five minutes on the pitch, needed only four minutes of regular time (plus seven of added time) against Belgium to make his mark. No wonder Spain boss Luis de la Fuente keeps him on the bench.
De la Fuente, now into his fourth year as Spain boss, has built a team around collective identity. "Almost every squad has had the opposite, the player who disrupts harmony, who puts himself first," he said before the game. "Those of us who have been in a locker room know what it means to be a good person." His Spain have lost just three times since he took over in January 2023 and are on a 35-game unbeaten run.
Among the crowd at SoFi Stadium were Noel Gallagher, looking tense, alongside actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as they watched Spain's dramatic victory. Spain now face France on Tuesday, July 14, in Texas, with a place in the final at stake.