Matadors March On! Spain Beat Belgium 2-1 to Reach Semis, Set for France Showdown

A crucial World Cup quarterfinal kicked off at 3 a.m. Beijing time on July 11 at SoFi Stadium in the USA, as Spain and Belgium battled fiercely. Prior to the match, Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans suffered a sudden injury during warm-ups, prompting the head coach to adjust the starting lineup, with Hans Vanaken replacing him.

In the first half, Spain broke the deadlock. Fabian Ruiz slotted home a rebound in a goalmouth scramble to give his side the lead. However, Belgium responded quickly, as Charles De Ketelaere leveled the score with a solo effort, sending the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.

The second half saw a dramatic turn of events when Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off due to injury. Spain, meanwhile, welcomed back Nico Williams from injury. In the XXth minute (Note: Original text did not specify the time, so it is kept as is), Pau Cubarsí unleashed a surprise long-range strike from outside the box; the shot slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Lammens, and Mikel Merino pounced on the rebound to score the winner. Spain eventually triumphed 2-1 over Belgium, securing a spot in the semifinals where they will face France for a place in the final.