Spain just snatched a wild 2-1 win against Belgium on Friday, with Mikel Merino delivering the absolute dagger late in the game! That victory sends Spain marching into the FIFA World Cup semifinals for only the second time ever. Talk about a nail-biter, man.
Merino Strikes After Chaos
Dude, Merino, who already buried Portugal in the Round of 16, just crushed Belgium's hopes with a finish into the roof of the net at SoFi Stadium. He capitalized on a total mess from Belgium's backup keeper, Senne Lammens. Lammens totally fumbled a long shot from Pau Cubarsi, spilling it right into the path of an onrushing Merino. What a tough break for Belgium, because Lammens only came in after their No. 1 goalie, Thibaut Courtois, had to exit with an apparent injury in the 71st minute. You just gotta convert those chances, and Merino did not disappoint.First Half Fireworks & History Makers
Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, made a bold call swapping Fabián Ruiz in for Pedri, and it paid off big time! Ruiz scored after the first-half hydration break, cleaning up a rebound from Dani Olmo's shot, which came after some nice buildup from Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro down the right flank. But Belgium snatched one back before halftime when Charles De Ketelaere beat Unai Simón with a glancing header off a perfect cross from Timothy Castagne. Total gut punch. Speaking of Yamal, that kid is a legit phenom. He made his sixth tournament appearance on Friday, making him the most-capped player under 18 in World Cup history. This win pushes Spain's ridiculous unbeaten run to 36 games, a new team record! They're only one game short of Italy's all-time record of 37. Now, Spain is set to clash with France on Tuesday in what's going to be an absolutely epic semifinal matchup. You know France has been watching this Spain squad tear it up. Get ready for some fireworks!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.