- Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in their World Cup quarter-final match, securing their progression to the semi-finals.
- Fabian Ruiz initially gave Spain the lead in the first half, but Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium just before the break, marking the first goal Spain had conceded in the tournament.
- Belgium suffered two significant injuries, with captain Youri Tielemans withdrawing before the match and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois being forced off in tears late in the second half.
- Courtois' replacement, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, made a critical error by spilling a shot, which allowed Mikel Merino to score a late rebound goal for Spain, securing the victory.
- This late winner by Mikel Merino was his second consecutive decisive goal, following his late strike against Portugal in the previous round, and sends Spain into the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time where they will face France.
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