Spain just punched their ticket to the FIFA World Cup semifinals, beating Belgium 2-1 in an absolute nail-biter on Friday in Inglewood, California! What a finish! It took a late goal from super-sub Mikel Merino to get it done, setting up what everyone is calling a dream matchup against France on Tuesday. But man, oh man, La Roja were pushed to their absolute limit by the Red Devils, and if we're being totally honest, their attack still has some serious questions. This next match against France? It's going to be wild.
Merino Delivers the Drama, Again and Again
What a game, right? Pure chaos from the jump. Fabián Ruiz, a surprise starter who looked ready for the moment, slammed home a rebound in the 30th minute to put Spain ahead. The crowd went wild! We were hyped, feeling that momentum. But then, Charles De Ketelaere, off a nasty, perfectly placed cross from Timothy Castagne, leveled it for Belgium just 11 minutes later in the 41st. Talk about a gut punch! It felt like we were headed for extra time, a grueling battle. But then Merino happened. Two minutes from the end of normal time, substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens fumbled Pau Cubarsí's long-distance attempt, a crucial error. And who was there to play the hero? Mikel Merino, the man himself, netting the winner! He even called it "surreal" to score Spain's World Cup winner like that again. The guy is pure clutch, plain and simple.The "Wasteful Attack" Bugbear Still Lurks for La Roja
Look, a win's a win, especially in a World Cup quarterfinal against a tough opponent. You take it and you run. But let's dig into the numbers. Spain scoring 11 goals from 11.83 expected goals (xG) at this tournament? That number is a serious red flag, folks. Elite teams, especially those with Spain's incredible talent and possession-oriented style, should be significantly outperforming their xG, not just barely meeting it. This stat points straight to the old bugbear: poor finishing. They simply don't have a genuine, consistent center forward. Mikel Oyarzabal, recycled as a winger, has been playing as a central striker this year, but let's be real, he's never been a prolific open-play scorer. He hit 18 goals this year, sure, but a full half of those were penalties! Before this season, he hadn't even cracked double figures in his previous four seasons. And Ferran Torres, who often comes in for him, has spent most of his career further back from the opposition goal, not leading the line. They've got the talent, the incredible build-up play, the chances, but someone needs to consistently bury them, not rely on goalkeeping errors or last-minute heroics every time. Spain now faces France in that massive semifinal showdown on Tuesday. Yamal from Spain is already talking big, saying France should absolutely fear them. With Merino's last-minute heroics and a spot in the semis secured, Spain definitely has some serious momentum, but they better find that clinical finishing touch fast. France isn't going to give them second chances, they won't let them off the hook like Belgium did. This is the World Cup semifinals, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Get ready for an absolutely massive match!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.