Two minutes from time, with the World Cup quarterfinal hanging in the balance, Belgian substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a routine long-range effort from Pau Cubarsi into the path of Mikel Merino. The Arsenal midfielder slammed the ball into the roof of the net, sending Spain into a tantalising semi-final showdown with France on Tuesday in the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium.
The cruel turn of the tide came 20 minutes from the end, when Thibaut Courtois – one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers – trudged off inconsolable after sustaining a thigh injury. Manchester United's Lammens, a very capable No 2, took his place. But it was his error, his incomprehensible spill of Cubarsi's shot, that will be the lasting image of Belgium's campaign.
“Substitute keeper Lammens’ spill gifts Merino winner as Spain beat Belgium 2-1.”
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente keeps Merino on the bench, yet it’s now two World Cup knockout games deadlocked, two won by his left boot. On Monday, it was against Portugal in Dallas; here in the Californian sunshine, he was quickest to anticipate the error.
Belgium had not played Spain for a decade, and Spain were unbeaten in 11 games against their European opponents, dating back to a World Cup quarterfinal shoot-out defeat 40 years ago in Puebla City, Mexico. In sweltering conditions in Inglewood, with the match kicking off at midday, Belgium boss Rudi Garcia drafted back his big guns, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, after they were surprise omissions against the USA. But the weight of history could not prevent the hammer blow.
Spain’s incredible run now stands at 36 consecutive matches unbeaten in competitive encounters. Their clean-sheet record, standing at 650 World Cup minutes without conceding, came a cropper here, but the underlying goal of the summer did not sway off course. As they took the applause of the 70,000-strong crowd in Los Angeles, dominated by Spain supporters, they will be satisfied with their progression, even if their status was precarious for a period. Next up: Kylian Mbappe and France.
