Spain is through to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ tournament semi-finals after a dramatic 2-1 win over Belgium. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for the Spaniards, before Belgium equalised through Charles De Ketelaere. But substitute Mikel Merino - also the hero in the previous round against Portugal - came off the bench in the 86th minute, and scored just before stoppage time. Lamine Yamal was named Player of the Match after another electric performance. Join your host Haylena Krishnamoorthy for this episode of World Cup Daily | The 90+ Podcast, as she talks to former Matildas legend and SBS World Cup pundit, Sarah Walsh to break down the match.
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TRANSCRIPT
Did Spain get their team selection right against Belgium?
How big of an impact did teenage star Lamine Yamal have in today's match?
And how are Norway fans in Sydney getting ready for tomorrow's huge clash against England?
This is SBS News World Cup Daily, The 90+ Podcast, where we bring you the stories from on and beyond the pitch. And I'm your host, Haylena Krishnamoorthy.
(Sound of crowd in the stadium)
More than 70,000 fans packed into Los Angeles Stadium, for today's only match.
Spain is through to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-1 win over Belgium.
(Commentary)
Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for the Spaniards
(Commentary)
...before Belgium equalised through Charles De Ketelaere just before half-time.
With the match heading towards extra time, substitute Mikel Merino - also the hero in the previous round against Portugal - came off the bench in the 86th minute and scored two minutes later sending Spain into the semi-finals.
"(Pau) Cubarsí taking aim..and buried, it's that man again is beaten and Spain take the lead late on, Mikel Merino climbing up the bench once again."
Belgium pushed Spain much harder than predicted.
I spoke to former Matildas legend and SBS pundit, Sarah Walsh after the match, and this is what she had to say.
"I think it kind of, probably more goals than I thought we'd see pre-match. I thought maybe it would, there'd only be one goal in it. And, a lot of people didn't give Belgium a chance to score against Spain because Spain hadn't... had been on a long run without, being scored against. They hadn't conceded a goal, particularly at this World Cup. And so, not surprising they had significant possession. It was around, 60 per cent possession. But it took a goalkeeper mistake and also kind of, you know, a shot on goal, to be able to score. So, I think Belgium really put it to them, and we always knew they were gonna play counter-attacking football, and so we saw that today."
Spain made one notable change from the side that beat Portugal, bringing Fabián Ruiz into the starting eleven, to start in place of star midfielder (Pedro González López) Pedri.
"Pedri didn't start the match for (Fabian) Ruiz and, for Spain, and they were looking for more physicality in the midfield. But, Pedri come on, he had something like 46 touches in the second half. He was on the ball a lot. But he is the, the link between, you know, Rodri, who had the most passes of anyone in the whole tournament, completed passes. You know, he's fantastic player. But it always needs someone to be able to create that link between, you know, the strikers and, or actually just turn that possession into something of a chance. And Pedri's that player. He come on and he delivered that in the second half, and he was the difference in terms of turning that defence around and getting more opportunities for Spain."
Lamine Yamal was named Player of the Match after another electric performance.
The 18-year-old constantly threatened Belgium's defence, finishing with six shots and four successful dribbles.
I also asked Sarah what her thoughts were with VAR being in the spotlight at this World Cup.
She says the technology has come a long way, with quicker decisions and better accuracy, even if there are still questions about how the laws of the game are applied.
"Can you remember last World Cup with VAR? It took too long. They got too many - I think it's actually progressed significantly. Things are being checked in the back. You know, even the fact that we're starting to use them on corners and, and goal kicks that are, that are really critical to goal scoring opportunities. So I actually think it's working well. I think what needs to happen is it probably needs to be looked at and overlaid with, you know, regulations and rules because, you know, once, once you bring the VAR in to check something and if the ref's already made a decision, like the Balogun red card, well, objectively kind of, I think most people sit back and go, "Well, that's not a red card." But, but ultimately the laws of the game said it, says it is."
For Spain, this is just the second time they've reached a men's World Cup semi-final.
The last time was at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when they went on to win the tournament.
And the women's team secured their first-ever women's World Cup title in 2023, in Sydney, Australia.
A late Romelu Lukaku attempt in stoppage time didn't find the net and left Belgium without an equaliser.
A late change before the match also didn't help, with Youri Tielemans reportedly injured during the warm-up.
(Sound from Spanish fans at a watch party)
This is what it sounded like at a watch party with Spanish fans in Sydney.
There were also celebrations back home in Spain, but there's a sombre mood too, following a deadly fire in Los Gallardos, in Spain's Almería province.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente offered his condolences, revealing the mother of team photographer Ángel Martínez is among those who lost their lives.
He extended his sympathies to all of the affected families.
Spain now goes on to face France in the semi-finals on July 15 at 5am AEST.
Luis de la Fuente says his side knows exactly what's waiting for them but believes Spain has what it takes to reach the final.
"Obviously, I now think that we are two of the choices that we would all probably think could reach a final. France has demostrated extraordinary, exceptional potential, and we have exactly the same. I think we have a very high expectation for the next game. Now we are focussed on that match, as it should be. And being aware of the great potential that we have, in front of the rival we have, in front of us, but also aware that the only team that has been able to beat France, in the last two matches they have played, in the semi-finals, has been us."
As for tomorrow's matches, Sarah Walsh says Norway and England is a difficult one to split.
But she's narrowly tipping England to edge out Norway.
"I'm forced to not sit on the fence, so I'll pick England. Although I think Norway have been so good, and we love the country. We love Haaland. We, we love, you know, what they represent, and so I'd hate to see them go out. But I think England will, will have the edge. They will go on to play, you know, Argentina I think will beat Switzerland tomorrow."
Argentina takes on Switzerland a few hours later to wrap up the quarter finals.
Sarah predicts Argentina to win this match ... with the winners of tomorrow's matches joining France and Spain in the semi finals.
She goes on to predict the final match, saying France's Kylian Mbappé will continue to be the player every defence fears.
"I do wonder, like, how much gas Argentina has in the tank. They've had two very emotional games, one against Cabo Verde and the other against Egypt, who pushed them all the way. So, I think, I don't say it with great conviction, but, I think England go to beat Argentina in that semifinal. And then, I think France beats Spain, and then France goes on to win it. So, I think France-England final. I think that'd be a really great matchup. Although, you know, you've got two European nations, and, something that's important to me is the balance of power and shifting the development across those other continents. It's so many, you know, World Cups we've had, it's either South America or Europe, and, here we are again."
Highlighting some of the key players:
"Well, I just think that these games, the the margins are so, so fine that it, it actually needs a player to break open or, or do something spectacular, and that's why Messi's still so important for Argentina. But I, I think obviously Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are that for England. But Mbappé, I, I'm, I'm not sure there's a defense that can stop him. I don't see why not. He's gonna score goals."
And so - what lessons can Australia take from this World Cup?
Sarah Walsh believes there are reasons for Australian football fans to be optimistic.
She says the Socceroos' young squad has plenty of room to grow ahead of the next World Cup.
"I think the average age of the, the game against Australia, Turkey, that's the youngest team we've ever fielded. We should be so excited about the future. In four years' time in 2030 at the next World Cup, we're still, a large majority of these players, you know, peak performance age they say is 27. It's when your mind meets your body. But they're gonna be, you know, at a really good, state of play, a lot of these players, and they're gonna be more than competitive. And, and hopefully we've had a coach that's had more time with them to be able to implement, the tactics that we want to. And so I'm really excited about the future of the Socceroos. And it all starts next year at, at the Asian Cup. There's no reason why we can't go ahead and, and win that (and build)."
(Sound of Norwegian supporters cheering)
Meanwhile, excitement is building ahead of tomorrow's Norway-England quarter-final.
Norwegian supporters gathered at the Sydney Opera House today, creating a sea of red, blue and white as anticipation builds.
I'll be back with you tomorrow with the latest on Norway vs England, and Argentina vs Switzerland.
To catch up on the latest, you can head on to SBS On Demand.
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