Spain 2-1 Belgium - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Frites of Passage: Spain overcome stern test to overcome Belgium

A clash of European heavyweights, or at least one of them... soz Belgium.

Spain came into the game much the favourites, especially given Belgium's shortcomings in the tournament (barring that rather satisfying dismantling of USA of course).

Ultimately, despite the Belgians giving them a test, it was the might of Lamine Yamal and co, or should we say Mikel Merino and co, who came through victorious in a 2-1 win courtesy of an 88th minute tap in by the Arsenal man after a Lammens mistake.

Spain vs Belgium as it happened

It was the European champs who began the tie on the front foot. Mainly through long periods of possession rather than any goal threatening action but clearly the Spaniard's plan was to put their foot on Belgium's neck until something gave way.

The best way to describe the game is a light at the end of a very long tunnel which you are unfortunately running toward at the speed of which you would in your dreams when traversing the chase of a nightmarish monster.

Essentially, it was struggling to really burst into life - I would have just said that initially but mine was more fun, wasn't it?

That flow remained the case until the 29th minute, the hydration break doing bits once again clearly.

Pedro Porro found a yard of space in behind De Cuyper on the left hand side and pulled a perfect ball back to Dani Olmo. Olmo struck rather tamely at goal but Courtois could only parry back into the path of the waiting Fabian Ruiz who slotted home in simple fashion.

Spain continued their front foot football, clearly buoyed by breaking the deadlock. But Belgium weren't about to sit around and let the game run away from them and pulled back level in the 40th minute.

Trossard received the ball on the right before sliding down the line to the onrushing Castagne. The Fulham full back swung in an inviting ball to which de Ketelaere said thank you very much and headed beyond the helpless Unai Simon.

Feed the kettle and he'll make you a cuppa. Yes I did just make up a new nickname for de Ketelaere. Yes that was a metaphor about scoring goals. No, I don't think it will catch on...

Half time: Spain 1-1 Belgium

Neither side was doing much fannying about when the referee signalled the start of the second half and both clearly felt as if getting the next goal quickly was crucial.

Again, as the quality on paper would suggest, Spain were the side who looked more likely to spark more life into the game with a couple of dangerous looking moves not really testing Courtois.

Changes were rife in the second half, Spain made two just seven minutes into the half and Belgium made three in the 60th minute. Most interestingly of which was the arrival of Axel Witsel who, despite now being 37, doesn't look a day over 21. Drop the skincare routine, Axel.

Belgium were dealt a rather hefty blow when their towering goalkeeper Courtois reduced to tears after departing due to a knee injury. I reckon De Bruyne was secretly thrilled.

The game entered a rather substantial lull from the Belgium substitutions onward apart from Courtois coming off. From around the 60th minute to the 75th there really wasn't much to talk about, or write about in a match report for that matter.

A couple of half chances in quick succession came as Yamal drifted off the shoulder of Seys but saw his touch just let him down as the ball was collected by Penders. Unai Simon then had a moment and gave the ball straight to De Bruyne 40 yards out who was closed down before he could get a proper effort on goal.

Remember when we talked about that Courtois injury? Yeah, well that came back to bite Belgium in the 88th minute. Senne Lammens was only able to spill a long range strike by Pau Cubarsi and, as he scrambled to regain the ball, he was converged on by Mikel Merino who made it two in two to put Spain ahead.

Two minutes into seven of injury time saw a big chance for Belgium go begging. Simon was once again caught in no mans land as Salemaekers was sent on his way and rounded the goalkeeper. The substitute crossed from the byline but, with Lukaku lurking, an acrobatic clearance by Laporte saw the ball land gratefully back in the gloves of the wandering Simon.

That was ultimately the last big chance of the game too, and the referee would blow his whistle just a few minutes later. The last World Cup for the remainder of Belgium's golden generation as the European champs continue their march toward the final.

Spain player ratings

Simon - 6

Porro - 7 Cubarsi - 7 Laporte - 6 Cucurella - 6

Rodri - 6 Ruiz - 7 Olmo - 7

Yamal - 6 Baena - 5 Oyarzabal - 6

Substitutes Pedri (55') - 5 Ferran (55') - 6 Williams (79') - 6 Merino (86') - 7

Belgium player ratings

Courtois - 6

Castagne - 7 Ngoy - 7 Mechele - 7 De Cuyper - 6

Vanaken - 5 Raskin - 6 De Bruyne - 6

Trossard - 6 Doku - 7 de Ketelaere - 7

Substitutes Seys (60') - 6 Witsel (60') - 5 Lukaku (60') - 5 Lammens (71') - 3 Saelemaekers (86') - 6

Man of the Match: Mikel Merino

I'm always cautious about giving the man of the match to a subsitute who scored. But once again Merino's was the winner and he was excellent in his cameo.

The Arsenal man was not only decisvie going forward, but also paid his dues at the back with a couple of clearances maintaining his sides lead in added time.