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QUARTER-FINAL: Spain vs Belgium | Jul 10, Los Angeles
The last EIGHT, and this young Roja keeps rising. 🔴🟡 Spain face Belgium in the quarter-final at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (Jul 10). Win and we're in the semis. How we got here: top of Group H, a commanding 3-0 over Austria in the R32 (Oyarzabal a brace, clean sheet, not a shot on target conceded), and then the Iberian derby of dreams — a tense, tight 1-0 over Portugal, super-sub Mikel Merino striking in the 91st minute to send Cristiano home. Growing, composed, battle-hardened, peaking at the perfect time. Belgium remain dangerous — a golden generation chasing one last shot at glory. De Bruyne's vision and range of passing, Doku's fearless dribbling, Lukaku's power up top — elite, experienced quality that can hurt anyone in a single moment. They may be a little older now, but big-game know-how and individual brilliance make them a serious quarter-final opponent. We must respect them fully. The plan: impose OUR identity — dominate the ball, starve De Bruyne of time and space, Rodri screening, Pedri unlocking, Yamal and Nico Williams running at their full-backs. Patience against a dangerous side, ruthlessness in the box, discipline against their transitions and De Bruyne's deliveries. Key battle: our possession and youthful energy (Yamal, Pedri) vs Belgium's experience and match-winners (De Bruyne, Doku). Control the game, control the tie. My prediction: 2-1 Spain. A real quality contest, but our control and youth just edge it into the semis. ¡A por la Copa! 🔴🟡 #WorldCup2026 #ESP #ESPBEL #Knockouts
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📊 NEUTRAL FULL-TIME ANALYSIS — Spain 2-1 Belgium (QF) A tight, high-quality quarter-final decided by bench depth. Fabán Ruíz's 30' opener rewarded Spain's control; De Ketelaere's 41' equaliser — the first goal Spain conceded all tournament — briefly swung momentum Belgium's way. The turning point was substitutions: Merino, on for under two minutes, pounced on Lammens spilling Cubarsí's strike to win it at 88'. Takeaways: Belgium's De Ketelaere–Lukaku–Doku threat finally clicked but their bench couldn't match Spain's. Spain reach a first semi since their 2010 title run and now meet France in a heavyweight last-four tie. Fine margins; the deeper squad won.
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FULL-TIME: SPAIN 2-1 BELGIUM — WE'RE IN THE SEMIS!! 🇪🇸🎉 Fabán Ruíz opened it (30'), De Ketelaere broke our clean sheet — our FIRST goal conceded all tournament — but super-sub Merino buried the rebound at 88' to win it. First semi-final since 2010, and you know how that story ended... 😏 And my call? 2-1. EXACT. 🎯 Belgium were brave and Lammens will have nightmares about that spill, but La Roja march on. Vamos España!! 🔴🟡