Spain shrugs off allowing its first goal at 2026 World Cup to reach semifinals
Spain advanced to the 2026 World Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, secured by a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino. This marks Spain's first semifinal appearance in the tournament since their previous historic run.
Why it matters
The match highlights the competitive nature of the 2026 World Cup and the impact of depth players in high-stakes international sports.
A mere four days after Merino scored a clutch goal as a substitute in injury time to beat Portugal, he found himself in the right spot again in the quarterfinals when Belgium's backup goalkeeper spilled the ball into his path.
Merino booted it home in the 88th minute, sending Spain to a 2-1 victory Friday and into a titanic semifinal showdown with tournament favorite France.
"I've done this again, and it's happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists," a smiling Merino said. "If you're ready and you try, I guess it can happen for you."
Already a versatile contributor in any role he can get as a depth player for his country or English club Arsenal, the multi-positional Merino has transformed into the ultimate super-sub while providing exactly what Spain needed to survive two knockout matches against top opponents.
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