Youri Tielemans was withdrawn from Belgium's starting XI just 15 minutes before kick-off of their World Cup quarter-final against Spain, a hamstring injury forcing the Aston Villa midfielder out of the match. BBC lead commentator Steve Bower said: "Well I understand that Youri Tielemans has been withdrawn from the Belgium side at the very last minute... he didn't play any part in the warm-up." Hans Vanaken came in as his replacement, but the late change proved costly as Spain secured a 2-1 victory, with Arsenal's Mikel Merino scoring the winner late on.
The injury compounded Belgium's woes after Amadou Onana ruptured his ACL in the last-16 win over the USMNT. The build-up to that match had been overshadowed by controversy after FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's one-match ban for 12 months, allowing him to play despite a red card—a decision that angered England boss Thomas Tuchel, whose own defender Jarell Quansah was banned for two games after a red card against Mexico.
“Spain beat Belgium 2-1 after Tielemans injured in warm-up; Mikel Merino scores late winner.”
Spain, now into the semi-finals to face France, are bidding to become just the fourth team to hold both the World Cup and European Championship titles at the same time, following their own 2010 side, France in 2000 and West Germany in 1974. Manager Luis de la Fuente, in his fourth year, has lost only three matches since taking over in January 2023 and is on a 35-game unbeaten run. His philosophy is built on collective identity: "Those of us who have been in a locker room know what it means to be a good person," he said before the game. "Almost every squad has had the opposite, the player who disrupts harmony."
De la Fuente's side, defined by controlling possession with alternatives, now face a France team lying in wait. With England's Marc Guehi and Declan Rice also injury concerns after missing training, the path to glory remains fraught—but Spain's relentless march continues.