World Cup 2022: Spain Edge Belgium, Set up Semi-Final Showdown with France
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute after a goalkeeper error, and Spain advanced to a semi-final against France.
- On Friday, Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals after Mikel Merino scored an 88th-minute winner, securing a 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood before 70,492 fans.
- Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, but Charles De Ketelaere equalized 11 minutes later; Belgium's Thibaut Courtois departed with an injury in the 71st minute, replaced by Senne Lammens.
- As the match neared extra time, Pau Cubarsí unleashed a shot that Lammens failed to secure, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound and score his second consecutive winning goal.
- Spain will now face Didier Deschamps' France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas, with Merino saying, "We came here for this and we're confident in our abilities."
- France, arguably the tournament's standout performer, reached the last four after beating Morocco 2-0, with the winner of the Spain-France clash set to face either Argentina, Switzerland, Norway, or England.
33 Articles
33 Articles
The Iberians crush Belgium and stand in the semi-finals. There the duel of the two best European teams comes against France.
The player left again from the bench and scored in the 87th minute the decisive goal that leads to Spain for the third time among the four best teams of the World Cup. Spain: Ruiz (30), Mikel Merino (87) Belgium: De Ketelaere (41) At this point nobody escapes that Mikel Merino has [...]
2026 World Cup: Courtois predicts team to win trophy ahead of France vs Spain semi-final
Belgium goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, has said the winner of the France vs Spain semi-final will win the 2026 World Cup. Courtois was speaking to reporters after they were eliminated in the quarter-final by Spain. Mikel Merino came off the bench to score the winner for La Roja, as they booked a last-four clash with France. […] 2026 World Cup: Courtois predicts team to win trophy ahead of France vs Spain semi-final
World Cup 2022: Spain edge Belgium, set up semi-final showdown with France
Spain booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals on Friday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium, sealed by a late winner from Mikel Merino. La Roja will now face France on Tuesday for a place in the final.
The analysis: France is unbeatable in this World Cup. The feeling: If there's one team that's going to do it, it's Spain. Now they meet in a semi-final that could – should? – have been this year's World Cup final.
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