Spain edge past Belgium as late Merino header seals World Cup semi-final spot

Mikel Merino’s 88th-minute header sent Spain into the World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium, after a tense quarter-final in which La Roja’s dominance of the ball was finally matched by a clinical late punch.

Spain

• Unai Simón Mendibil (6.5)
• Pedro Antonio Porro Sauceda (6.6)
• Pau Cubarsí Paredes (7)
• Aymeric Jean Louis Gérard Alph Laporte (6.6)
• Marc Cucurella Saseta (6.5)
• Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (7.3)
• Fabián Ruiz Peña (7.3)
• Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana (7.3)
• Daniel Olmo Carvajal (7.3)
• Alejandro Baena Rodríguez (6.9)
• Mikel Oyarzabal Ugarte (6.9)

Belgium

Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois (7.9)

Timothy Castagne (6.6)

Nathan Ngoy (7)

Brandon Mechele (6.9)

Maxim De Cuyper (6.3)

Hans Vanaken (6.3)

Nicolas Thierry Raskin (6.3)

Leandro Trossard (6.3)

Kevin De Bruyne (6.6)

Jérémy Baffour Doku (6.7)

Charles Marc De Ketelaere (7.7)

Substitutions:

Spain

• Alejandro Baena Rodríguez (Ferran Torres García, 55)
• Fabián Ruiz Peña (Pedro González López, 55)
• Mikel Oyarzabal Ugarte (Nicholas Williams Arthuer, 79)
• Daniel Olmo Carvajal (Mikel Merino Zazón, 86)

Belgium

• Leandro Trossard (Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel, 60)
• Hans Vanaken (Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli, 60)
• Maxim De Cuyper (Joaquin Seys, 61)
• Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois (Senne Lammens, 71)
• Kevin De Bruyne (Alexis Jesse Saelemaekers, 86)

Ball possession:

Fabián Ruiz had put Spain ahead on the half-hour with a composed finish before Charles De Ketelaere levelled for Belgium just before the break. For long spells it looked as though extra time would be needed, but Merino rose to glance home a late winner and keep Spain’s World Cup dream on track.

Passes:

Spain controlled the quarter-final almost from first whistle to last, enjoying 68% possession to Belgium’s 32%. Yet it took that late moment of precision to finally subdue a Belgian side whose resilience in defence and threat on the break kept them firmly in the contest until the closing minutes.

Defense:

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Face-to-face:

Spain dominate the ball – and finally make it count Spain’s approach was clear from the outset: monopolise possession, probe patiently and drag Belgium’s compact lines out of shape.

Fouls:

Yellow cards:

Top 5 World Cup scorers: