La Roja Advance

Published: Friday, July 10, 2026

by Liam Page

Spain conceded their first goal of the World Cup, but it wasn't enough to keep La Roja from advancing to the semifinals. Spain knock off Belgium 2-1 to advance to just their 3rd World Cup semifinal in team history.  

Spain Looked dominant to begin the match. Multiple chances that just didn't quite connect left Belgium on the back foot to start. Then in the 30th minute, Dani Olmo put a shot right at the Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, but Courtois was unable to hang on to the shot and it rebounded straight to Fabían Ruiz who put it through the legs of Timothy Castagne to open the scoring 1-0 in favor of Spain. 

 

Lamine Yamal had several missed opportunities including a free kick in the 35th minute that rebounded dangerously, but did not end in a goal. Not 5 minutes later he would have another shot from just outside the penalty area that found the outside of the near post. 

 

It looked like Belgium would be lucky to enter halftime down 1-0. However in the 41st minute Castagne found himself unmarked on the right wing and delivered a cross to Charles De Ketelaere who headed in the first goal Spain had conceded the entire tournament. De Ketelaere's 3rd goal in two games gave the Belgian team a spark and after a yellow card on Spain's defender Pau Cubarasí, La Roja looked divided.

 

The second half both teams proved why they belonged there. Great attempts that went just wide or were saved in time by the keeper were traded by both teams and it was clear that this game would end with whoever could score next.

 

40 minutes into the second half it was still tied 1-1. In the 88th minute Cubarsí fired a shot from about 25 yards out and it rebounded into 6 yard box until it found the foot of substitute Mikel Merino. Merino had been on the pitch for just 2 minutes prior to scoring the game winner. 

 

Hard shots led to favorable rebounds for the Spanish team and they made sure to follow their shots and capitalize on mistakes. Spain will play France in the semi final match on July 14th. the last time Spain made the semifinals they won it all back in 2010.

 

For World Cup updates follow wsou news on Instagram or reach out to Liam Page at liam.page@student.shu.edu for more information.

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