Spain vs Belgium, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Quarterfinals
· FIFA World CupSenne Lammens mistake sends Spain into World Cup semifinal at Belgium's expense
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 2': Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Belgium).
- 2': Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 3': Offside, Spain. Marc Cucurella is caught offside.
- 9': Foul by Leandro Trossard (Belgium).
- 9': Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 10': Attempt blocked. Rodri (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fabián Ruiz with a cross.
- 11': Jérémy Doku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 11': Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain).
- 13': Attempt blocked. Álex Baena (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pau Cubarsí with a through ball.
- 15': Attempt blocked. Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jérémy Doku.
- 18': Foul by Maxim De Cuyper (Belgium).
- 18': Pedro Porro (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 19': Brandon Mechele (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 19': Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain).
- 21': Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
- 22': Foul by Nathan Ngoy (Belgium).
- 22': Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 23': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 26': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 28': Timothy Castagne (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 28': Foul by Álex Baena (Spain).
- 30': Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Thibaut Courtois (Belgium). Assisted by Pedro Porro.
- 30': Goal! Spain 1, Belgium 0. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
- 31': Delay in match because of an injury Timothy Castagne (Belgium).
- 32': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 34': Foul by Jérémy Doku (Belgium).
- 34': Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 35': Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).
- 35': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jérémy Doku.
- 35': Delay in match (Spain).
- 36': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 36': Handball by Álex Baena (Spain).
- 37': Offside, Belgium. Charles De Ketelaere is caught offside.
- 40': Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Rodri.
- 41': Goal! Spain 1, Belgium 1. Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Timothy Castagne with a cross.
- 43': Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 43': Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Spain).
- 43': Pau Cubarsí (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 44': Foul by Maxim De Cuyper (Belgium).
- 44': Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 45': Attempt missed. Pedro Porro (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Álex Baena.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Brandon Mechele.
- 45'+2': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Kevin De Bruyne.
- 45'+2': Attempt blocked. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodri.
- 45'+3': Delay in match because of an injury Dani Olmo (Spain).
- 45'+4': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 45'+5': Nicolas Raskin (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45'+5': Foul by Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain).
- 45'+6': First Half ends, Spain 1, Belgium 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Spain 1, Belgium 1.
- 46': Leandro Trossard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 46': Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain).
- 47': Foul by Brandon Mechele (Belgium).
- 47': Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 48': Offside, Spain. Lamine Yamal is caught offside.
- 49': Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium).
- 49': Fabián Ruiz (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 50': Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Aymeric Laporte.
- 50': Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Belgium).
- 50': Álex Baena (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 52': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Cucurella.
- 52': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Brandon Mechele.
- 53': Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Pau Cubarsí following a corner.
- 55': Attempt missed. Maxim De Cuyper (Belgium) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
- 55': Substitution, Spain. Ferran Torres replaces Álex Baena.
- 55': Substitution, Spain. Pedri replaces Fabián Ruiz.
- 59': Jérémy Doku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 59': Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain).
- 60': Substitution, Belgium. Axel Witsel replaces Leandro Trossard.
- 60': Substitution, Belgium. Romelu Lukaku replaces Hans Vanaken.
- 61': Substitution, Belgium. Joaquin Seys replaces Maxim De Cuyper.
- 61': Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Thibaut Courtois (Belgium). Assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
- 62': Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Unai Simón (Spain).
- 62': Attempt saved. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner by Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).
- 62': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Nathan Ngoy.
- 64': Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Belgium).
- 64': Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 66': Jérémy Doku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 66': Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain).
- 66': Delay in match because of an injury Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).
- 67': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 67': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 70': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 70': Foul by Jérémy Doku (Belgium).
- 70': Pedro Porro (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 71': Offside, Spain. Marc Cucurella is caught offside.
- 71': Substitution, Belgium. Senne Lammens replaces Thibaut Courtois because of an injury.
- 74': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Olmo.
- 76': Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).
- 76': Pedri (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 77': Nicolas Raskin (Belgium) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 77': Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain).
- 79': Jérémy Doku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 79': Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain).
- 79': Substitution, Spain. Nico Williams replaces Mikel Oyarzabal.
- 82': Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Belgium).
- 82': Pau Cubarsí (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 84': Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
- 85': Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium).
- 85': Ferran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 85': Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 86': Substitution, Belgium. Alexis Saelemaekers replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
- 86': Substitution, Spain. Mikel Merino replaces Dani Olmo.
- 88': Attempt saved. Pau Cubarsí (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Senne Lammens (Belgium). Assisted by Pedri.
- 88': Goal! Spain 2, Belgium 1. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner.
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1': Axel Witsel (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+1': Foul by Mikel Merino (Spain).
- 90'+1': Handball by Jérémy Doku (Belgium).
- 90'+3': Jérémy Doku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+3': Foul by Aymeric Laporte (Spain).
- 90'+3': Aymeric Laporte (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90'+4': Foul by Nicolas Raskin (Belgium).
- 90'+4': Mikel Merino (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+5': Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).
- 90'+5': Rodri (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+5': Axel Witsel (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90'+6': Foul by Romelu Lukaku (Belgium).
- 90'+6': Unai Simón (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+7': Attempt saved. Marc Cucurella (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Senne Lammens (Belgium). Assisted by Mikel Merino.
- 90'+8': Second Half ends, Spain 2, Belgium 1.
- 0': Match ends, Spain 2, Belgium 1.
Statistics
 BEL |
ESP |
|
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Fouls | 13 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 3 |
| 1 | Corner Kicks | 5 |
| 6 | Saves | 1 |
| 32.1 | Possession | 67.9 |
| 5 | SHOTS | 17 |
| 2 | ON GOAL | 8 |
| 0.4 | On Target % | 0.5 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 243 | Accurate Passes | 598 |
| 312 | Passes | 664 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 2 | Accurate Crosses | 2 |
| 11 | Crosses | 20 |
| 0.2 | Cross % | 0.1 |
| 45 | Long Balls | 35 |
| 20 | Accurate Long Balls | 19 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.5 |
| 2 | Blocked Shots | 5 |
| 6 | Effective Tackles | 6 |
| 10 | Tackles | 11 |
| 0.6 | Tackle % | 0.5 |
| 9 | Interceptions | 5 |
| 34 | Effective Clearances | 15 |
| 34 | Clearances | 15 |
Game Information
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Venue: SoFi Stadium
Location: Inglewood, California, USA
Attendance: 70,492
Venue: SoFi Stadium
Location: Inglewood, California, USA
Attendance: 70,492
Line-Ups
Spain (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Unai Simón (GK) |
| 14 | Aymeric Laporte  |
| 22 | Pau Cubarsí |
| 24 | Marc Cucurella |
| 12 | Pedro Porro |
| 10 | Dani Olmo |
| 8 | Fabián Ruiz |
| 16 | Rodri |
| 21 | Mikel Oyarzabal |
| 15 | Álex Baena |
| 19 | Lamine Yamal |
Belgium (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thibaut Courtois (GK) |
| 4 | Brandon Mechele |
| 25 | Nathan Ngoy |
| 5 | Maxim De Cuyper |
| 21 | Timothy Castagne |
| 7 | Kevin De Bruyne |
| 23 | Nicolas Raskin |
| 20 | Hans Vanaken |
| 17 | Charles De Ketelaere |
| 11 | Jérémy Doku |
| 10 | Leandro Trossard |
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