Injured star in tears as replacement’s blunder seals World Cup exit in nightmare moment
Spain advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, marked by an injury to Thibaut Courtois and a costly mistake by his replacement. The match saw Spain overcome an early Belgian challenge to secure their spot against France.
Why it matters
This match highlights the impact of player injuries and substitutions on tournament outcomes in elite international football.
FOOTBALL Injured star in tears as replacement’s blunder seals World Cup exit in nightmare moment Spain strike late to overcome Belgium | 00:52 Dane Heverin and AFP from Fox Sports July 11th, 2026 9:21 am Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was in tears as he was forced to leave the pitch with injury before watching his replacement make as a blunder as Spain scored the goal that put them through to the World Cup semi-finals in Los Angeles.
The European champions booked a final date with France with a 2-1 victory courtesy of Mikel Merino’s 88th minute goal, which was helped by a fumble from Courtois’ replacement, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
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