Super-sub Mikel Merino turned hero once again, scoring a dramatic 88th-minute winner to guide Spain into the World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Belgium on Friday.Spain will now face tournament favourites France in a blockbuster semi-final clash in Dallas on Tuesday. “It will be a clash of giants,” Spanish coach Luis De La Fuente said after the match.The decisive moment came just two minutes after Merino entered the pitch. In the 88th minute, Pau Cubarsí unleashed a powerful long-range strike. Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled the rebound, allowing the Arsenal forward to charge in and tuck the ball home with only his second touch of the match. Merino had previously scored a 91st-minute winner against Portugal in the Round of 16.It was a heartbreaking end for Belgium, who lost star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to a thigh injury in the 71st minute. Courtois left the field in tears and was replaced by Lammens.Earlier, Spain broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro combined brilliantly down the right flank to set up Dani Olmo. While Courtois blocked Olmo’s initial shot, Fabián Ruiz was perfectly positioned to hammer home the rebound. Ruiz was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI, replacing Pedri.Spain’s defensive resilience was on full display, having kept five consecutive clean sheets prior to this match. Goalkeeper Unai Simón had gone a World Cup-record 650 minutes without conceding. However, that historic streak ended in the 41st minute when Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere muscled past Cubarsí to head home a precise cross from Timothy Castagne.Belgium suffered pre-match blows with Amadou Onana injured and skipper Youri Tielemans pulling out during warm-ups, though Kevin De Bruyne returned to the lineup. Despite a desperate late surge led by Romelu Lukaku, Aymeric Laporte made a crucial acrobatic clearance in stoppage time to seal Spain’s victory.With this win, Spain extended their incredible unbeaten run to 37 matches, while Belgium’s 18-game undefeated streak came to an end.
