Mikel Merino has once again proved to be Spain’s super substitute, scoring a dramatic late winner as the reigning European champions edged past Belgium 2-1 in a thrilling World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to book a semifinal date with France.

Spain, who had gone 694 minutes without conceding a goal before Friday’s clash, dominated large spells of the contest through slick passing and the constant menace of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. La Roja broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Fabian Ruiz reacted quickest to tap home a rebound after the Belgian goalkeeper parried an initial effort.

Belgium responded before the break, however, as Charles De Ketelaere rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross in the 40th minute, sending the teams into halftime level at 1-1.

The Red Devils, missing captain Youri Tielemans through injury sustained in the warm-up, dug in defensively in the second half, absorbing wave after wave of Spanish pressure. Their resistance was further tested when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had been in inspired form, went down clutching his thigh and was eventually forced off in tears, replaced by Manchester United’s Senne Lammens for just his third senior cap. Spain introduced fresh legs of their own, bringing on Pedri, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams and eventually Mikel Merino, who had come off the bench to score the winner against Portugal in the previous round.

The move proved inspired once again. Merino had been on the pitch for barely two minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box in the 88th minute, after Lammens could not hold onto a stinging effort from Pau Cubarsi, calmly slotting home the rebound to hand Spain the lead. Belgium threw everything forward in seven minutes of stoppage time, coming agonisingly close to an equaliser when a forward rounded the goalkeeper but could not find the target from a tight angle. The final whistle confirmed Spain’s 2-1 victory, ending Belgium’s 18-game unbeaten run and their golden generation’s hopes of a first World Cup semifinal in decades.

Spain will now face France in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14, in the tournament’s first semifinal, with Les Bleus having already secured their spot after a 2-0 win over Morocco.

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