Belgium left bitter after late Lammens error sees Spain secure semi-final berth
With the change in rules coming into this World Cup, when Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois went down seeking attention with 20 minutes to go, we likely knew it was not a tactical injury.
And so it proved with the star netminder leaving the pitch injured and close to tears. The Red Devils thought they had an able replacement in Senne Lammens who has starred for Manchester United this year but his error two minutes from time handed the chance to Mikel Merino to score the winning goal.
Spain had taken the lead on the half hour mark when Courtois pushed out Dani Olmo’s shot into the path of Fabian Ruiz.
However, La Roja then conceded their first goal of this World Cup four minutes from the break when Charles De Ketelaere headed home Timothy Castagne’s centre.
The goal ended Unai Simon’s run without conceding at 560 minutes. The Spanish goalkeeper had broken the World Cup record of Walter Zenga, who went 517 minutes without letting in a goal for Italy in 1990.
This all-European quarter final in LA looked to be going to extra-time only for Lammens to spill Pau Cubarsi’s shot with substitute Merino quickest to react to steer the rebound home and move Spain’s unbeaten run to 36 matches.
It is the end of the line for Belgium at this World Cup and any other World Cup for a few of their ageing starts.
In next Tuesday’s semi-final in Dallas Spain will face France at 8pm (Irish time)
“We’re two matches away from winning a World Cup,” said match winner Merino. “It’s a dream come true. Hopefully we can achieve it. Everyone is watching these matches. Being able to bring this joy is a source of pride. Against France, at this stage, we couldn’t expect anything less than an elite team.”
Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro Sauceda, Pau Cubarsí Paredes, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella Saseta; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz Pena (Pedri 55); Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo (Mikel Merino 86), Alejandro Baena Rodriguez (Ferran Torres 55); Mikel Oyarzabal (Nico Williams 79).
Subs not used: David Raya Martin, Joan García Pons, Marc Pubill Pagès, Eric García Martret, Marcos Llorente Moreno, Álex Grimaldo, Pablo Páez Gavira, Martín Zubimendi, Yeremy Pino Santos, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias Quintás .
Booked: Pau Cubarsí Paredes (43), None (90).
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois (Senne Lammens 71); Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper (Joaquin Seys 61); Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard (Axel Witsel 60), Kevin De Bruyne (Alexis Saelemaekers 86), Jeremy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere.
Subs not used: Mike Louis Penders, Arthur Theate, Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Diego da Silva Moreira, Dodi Lukebakio, M. Fernandez-Pardo .
Booked: Kevin De Bruyne (85), Axel Witsel (90).
Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 70,492
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— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 10 July 2026 at 22:43
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …
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