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World Cup
Spain sealed their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belgium, as goals from Fabian Ruiz and super-sub Mikel Merino set up a blockbuster clash with France.
Spain are through to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, and they did it the hard way. Luis de la Fuente's side ground out a 2-1 victory over Belgium in a quarter-final that was far from comfortable, setting up a blockbuster showdown with France that could define this entire tournament.
The result was never in doubt once Fabian Ruiz broke the deadlock, but Belgium made Spain sweat. It took a late intervention from super-sub Mikel Merino to finally kill the contest and send La Roja into the last four.
The biggest pre-match talking point was the decision to bench Pedri in favour of Fabian Ruiz. It was a gutsy move from De la Fuente, one that could have backfired spectacularly in a World Cup knockout match. Instead, Ruiz repaid his manager's faith by opening the scoring and dictating tempo throughout the first half.
De la Fuente addressed the selection dilemma in his post-match comments, stressing the importance of collective responsibility and squad depth. He praised the maturity and professionalism of his players in handling internal competition for starting spots. That's easy to say when the gamble works, but credit where it's due: the coach trusted his instincts on the biggest stage and got it right.
If you weren't already paying attention to Mikel Merino, you should be now. The midfielder came off the bench in the 86th minute and scored almost immediately, capitalising on a howler from the Belgian goalkeeper to put the match beyond reach.
Here's the stat that matters: Merino has now scored winning goals in separate World Cup knockout ties as a substitute. That's a genuinely historic achievement. Not many players in the history of this tournament can claim that kind of impact off the bench. He's become the ultimate insurance policy for Spain, the man De la Fuente can unleash when the game is hanging in the balance.
Now comes the real test. Spain will face France in the semi-finals, a fixture dripping with narrative, rivalry, and sky-high stakes. De la Fuente himself acknowledged that France are widely considered the tournament favourites, and Merino described the upcoming clash as a straight head-to-head battle between two teams performing at the peak of their powers.
This is the kind of match that separates good teams from great ones. Spain have the squad depth, the tactical flexibility, and the momentum. France have the firepower and the pedigree. Something has to give.
For bettors and fans alike, the Spain vs France World Cup semi-final promises to be one of the defining fixtures of the tournament. With both sides riding waves of confidence, the odds should make for a fascinating market.
For those looking to get involved, explore exciting betting opportunities on the World Cup semi-finals and other major sporting events at Epicbet.
Christopher
