Spain advance to World Cup semi-finals after 2-1 win over Belgium in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Spain edged Belgium 2-1 on Friday and booked a World Cup semi-final date with France after a tense quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles hinged on a late mistake from goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Belgium, widely seen as underdogs, recovered from Fabian Ruiz’s opener around the half-hour mark when Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute. That goal was the first Spain had conceded at this tournament.

With the tie appearing headed for extra time, Pau Cubarsi struck from roughly 25 yards. Manchester United keeper Lammens failed to hold the effort, and Mikel Merino pounced on the loose ball to score. Merino, who had also knocked Portugal out in the round of 16, celebrated before a large Spanish section of the 70,000-strong crowd. Lammens had come on in the second half only after first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury. At full time, Courtois went over to console him.

Spain needed that piece of luck after Belgium’s defence repeatedly blocked their path and largely neutralised Lamine Yamal in a contest that proved far tighter than many pundits had forecast. France, who beat Morocco 2-0 on Thursday, may have noted moments when Spain’s back line looked shaky as both sides turn their attention to Tuesday’s semi-final in Arlington, Texas.

Saturday brings the final two quarter-finals on a packed day of World Cup action. Norway face England in Miami, where Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken said the duel between strikers Erling Haaland and Harry Kane could go a long way toward deciding the result. Haaland has scored seven times in his first four appearances at a major tournament, carrying Norway into the last eight for the first time since returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. Kane sits one goal behind the Manchester City forward in the current competition after taking his World Cup tally to 14 and helping England reach a third consecutive quarter-final.

“I think it’s Norway versus England, but I don’t think it is a secret that Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us,” Solbakken said at his pre-match press conference.

England’s push to return to the semi-finals — after a quarter-final exit four years ago — hit another obstacle as centre-half Marc Guehi is now a doubt because of a hamstring strain. Guehi will be assessed Friday, but with Jarell Quansah suspended for the quarter-final after being sent off against Mexico in the previous round, coach Thomas Tuchel faces unwanted defensive headaches as he plots how to stop the marauding Haaland.

On Thursday, France made a good Morocco team look decidedly average in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth goal of this World Cup and 20th World Cup goal overall before Ousmane Dembele completed the job. France captain Mbappe was substituted and applied an ice pack to his foot but was quick to reassure fans that it was nothing serious.