Merino Winner Sends Spain to World Cup Semifinals

Overview

• Spain beat Belgium 2-1 after Mikel Merino came off the bench to score the late winner from a rebound following a Pau Cubarsí shot.
• Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring and Charles De Ketelaere equalised before halftime, and the match turned after Thibaut Courtois left with a thigh injury and reserve Senne Lammens spilled a save that led to Merino's goal.
• Merino has now scored decisive late winners in consecutive knockout games, a pattern Luis de la Fuente defended publicly as justification for keeping the midfielder in the squad despite recent fitness doubts.
• Belgium’s run ended with several key injuries — including Amadou Onana’s ACL rupture and Tielemans’ last-minute muscle problem — prompting questions about the future of its veteran core led by De Bruyne, Courtois and Lukaku.
• Separately, Portugal has reached an agreement with Jorge Jesus on a contract through 2030 to build a more offensive national identity and accelerate a generational renewal with initial tests planned in the Nations League in September.