Spain’s dream World Cup run is showing no sign of ending. A hard-fought 2-1 win over Belgium carried them into the semifinals, where France await on Tuesday.
Spain dominated possession and territory from the start, and the pressure told in the 30th minute. Belgium’s veteran goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois first parried Dani Olmo’s shot from a Pedro Porro cutback on the right, but Fabian Ruiz reacted quickest to the rebound and drove it home. It was Ruiz’s first World Cup goal; Spain have never lost a match he has featured in, and that record survived here too.
Belgium slowly worked their way back. In the 41st minute, Charles De Ketelaere headed home superbly from a fine Timothy Castagne cross, ending a run of 649 minutes without conceding at the World Cup for Spain.
After the break, both sides pushed for a winner. Spain attacked in waves but repeatedly ran into Courtois – until the 72nd minute, when the goalkeeper was forced off injured. His replacement, Senne Lammens, could not hold a long-range effort two minutes from full time, and the loose ball fell to substitute Mikel Merino, who lashed it in to put Spain 2-1 ahead.
Belgium pressed desperately late on and had one good chance in stoppage time, but Spain’s defense and goalkeeper Unai Simon held firm. Spain reached their first World Cup semifinal since winning the title in 2010 – and a bigger test now awaits against France.
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