Spain are through to the World Cup semi-finals after Mikel Merino delivered another decisive late moment, scoring in the 88th minute to settle a tense contest against Belgium. The substitute’s intervention was enough to send Spain into the last four and set up a heavyweight meeting with France.
The result underlines a familiar theme for Spain: when matches become tight and margins shrink, they still have players capable of changing the game from the bench. Merino’s late winner was not just a decisive touch in a single knockout tie; it was also a reminder of the value of depth, patience and timing in tournament football, where one moment can define an entire campaign.
Merino’s impact changes the game
Merino’s goal arrived at a stage when Belgium had managed to keep Spain at bay deep into the match. In knockout football, that kind of resistance often forces the favourite to search for solutions from different angles, and Spain found theirs through a substitute rather than a starter. That detail matters tactically: it suggests Spain were able to maintain pressure and belief even as the clock moved towards full time.
For supporters, the significance is obvious. Late winners in major tournaments create momentum, belief and a sense that a team is finding ways to survive difficult moments. Spain’s progress will be welcomed not only because they advanced, but because they did so in a manner that can strengthen confidence inside the squad ahead of a tougher test against France.
What the semi-final means for Spain
France now stand between Spain and a place in the final, and that matchup raises the stakes considerably. Spain’s ability to edge past Belgium with a late goal suggests they are prepared for the pressure of knockout football, but it also hints that margins may remain fine against elite opposition. Against France, Spain will likely need the same combination of discipline, control and ruthless finishing that Merino provided here.
For Belgium, the defeat will sting because they were only seconds away from taking the tie deeper into the closing stages. In tournament football, those moments are often the difference between a memorable run and an abrupt exit. Spain, meanwhile, can take confidence from the fact they found a solution when the match demanded one most.
Merino’s late strike has therefore done more than win a game. It has carried Spain into the semi-finals, sharpened the narrative around their tournament resilience and set up a high-profile showdown with France that will test both their composure and their ambition.
Source note: This article was prepared using publicly available information from BBC Sport and expanded with editorial context.
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