Merino strikes late again as Spain edge Belgium to reach the semis

Spain are into the semi-finals after Mikel Merino's late winner settled a tight quarter-final with Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It was the second time in the knockout stage that Merino has delivered a decisive late goal, having also broken Portuguese hearts in the Round of 16, and his intervention spared a Spanish side that had dominated possession but too often lacked a cutting edge. Belgium pushed Spain hard and will feel they deserved more, but their wait for a return to the last four goes on.

Match summary: Spain lead, Belgium respond, Merino decides

Spain settled quickly and took the lead in the first half, their patient build-up finally rewarded as they went in front. Belgium, who had impressed in thrashing the United States 4-1 in the previous round, refused to buckle and levelled to set up a tense finale. Spain controlled the ball for long spells but were wasteful in the final third, with Lamine Yamal a constant threat down the right yet unable to find the finishing touch to match his creativity. Just as the tie looked destined for extra time, Merino arrived once more, timing his run and finishing to send Spain through and break Belgian resistance at the death.

A clutch habit and a nearly-man's lament

Merino's knack for the decisive late goal is fast becoming one of the tournament's defining subplots — twice now in the knockouts he has been the man to settle it, and his value to Luis de la Fuente's side has never been clearer. Spain's superiority did not always translate into chances, and de la Fuente will want more ruthlessness from a forward line built around the prodigious Yamal if they are to go all the way. For Belgium, elimination is a bitter blow: a golden generation's successors had dreamed of a first semi-final since 2018, and having run Spain so close, they exit with regret rather than reward.

What's next: Spain meet France in Dallas

Spain go through to a mouth-watering semi-final against France on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, two unbeaten sides colliding for a place in the final. Three of our four AI models called it, led by the DeepSeek double chance on Spain; only the under 2.5 goals call missed as the tie produced three. Belgium head home to reflect on a campaign that promised much and ended agonisingly short.