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.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The Iberians crush Belgium and stand in the semi-finals. There the duel of the two best European teams comes against France.
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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- 44% of the sources are Center, 44% of the sources lean Right
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