Mikel Merino’s amazing moment arrived once more, a country circling the corner flag with him. Introduced as a substitute on 85.32 with Spain struggling to find a way through against Belgium, Merino was the most alert man in the whole of Los Angeles, pouncing on a loose ball on 87.28 to send Spain into the semi-finals against France next week. It was a hat-trick of late, late goals: the same man who scored the winners that took Spain into a European Championship semi-final two years ago and a World Cup quarter-final four days ago, only went and did it again.
As he set off on that now familiar celebration in honour of his father, poor Thibaut Courtois, the man who might have prevented this, could only watch from the bench. Senne Lammens, who had dropped Pau Cubarsi’s shot at his feet, could only do the same. Spain went mad. They had done it.
“Super-sub Mikel Merino scores 88th-minute winner as Spain beats Belgium 2-1 to reach World Cup semi-finals.”
It had started with a big decision vindicated. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente had replaced Pedri with Fabian Ruiz, and the PSG midfielder set up the first real opportunity for Rodri on ten minutes before scoring the opening goal on half an hour. A neat ball from Lamine Yamal set Pedro Porro dashing into the area, where he pulled back for Dani Olmo. Olmo’s shot was pushed away by Courtois, but Ruiz was there to score from the rebound.
Belgium, viewed by many as underdogs, were rocked before kick-off as their influential captain, Youri Tielemans, was a late withdrawal. But they equalised before the break through Charles De Ketelaere, who got across his man to head past Unai Simon — the keeper who had gone 649 minutes without conceding across Spain’s five previous games.
In the second half, both sides traded blows. Lamine Yamal unleashed a shot at the unrelenting Courtois, while at the other end, Maxim De Cuyper sent a strike into the side netting. But then Belgium were stung by luck again: Courtois’s game came to a premature end after he sat down to receive medical treatment, and he came off looking devastated. Lammens, so impressive for Manchester United this season, came on but could not hold the strike from range that set the stage for Merino to pounce at the death.
Spain will now head to Dallas once more, their journey continuing thanks to another late intervention from a player who seems destined for these moments.