The solution was on the bench

BarcelonaThe Spanish team is already in the World Cup semi-finals. Suffering, dominating possession but struggling to break down Belgium's defense, Lamine Yamal's team and company eventually defeated the Belgian side (2-1) with an early goal from Fabián and a late one from Mikel Merino just before the end of regulation time. The red team's dream continues despite the team failing to dispel doubts, unable to complete a flawless 90-minute match. The next hurdle is France, with whom they will compete for a place in the final.

De la Fuente surprised with the starting lineup by leaving Pedri on the bench. It's true that the Canarian midfielder wasn't showing his best form in this World Cup, but very few imagined him being a substitute in a do-or-die match. Fabián came in for him, but even though he scored the first goal, his contribution did not even come close to replacing the magic that the footballer from Tegueste can provide.

Spain struggled to get their engine running and it wasn't until the hydration break that they showed a clear attacking intent. This isn't the first time it's happened in the tournament, as if the coach and the team treated the first few minutes as a kind of observation game, studying the opponent to find their weaknesses. In reality, Spain attacked from the start, but the team lacked ideas, fluidity, combination, and penetration. They shifted play to the right, looking for Lamine, who seemed apathetic at first, until he woke up.

Belgium is no longer what it used to be. Apart from some high pressure to make it difficult for Spain to get the ball out, Rudi Garcia's team's plan was to sit back and wait to see if they could break away at speed after recovering possession. Those Red Devils who earned respect by finishing third in the 2018 World Cup are today a team that survives without creative geniuses, relying entirely on group solidity and the occasional individual action when, for example, De Bruyne can receive the ball and distribute play. A solidity that theoretically starts in goal, well protected by a Courtois who continues to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world but who is not a superhero. The Real Madrid goalkeeper had to leave the pitch in the second half due to a muscle tear. He left the field in tears and was replaced by young Senne Lammens, a Manchester United goalkeeper.

The dominance of La Roja, accentuated after the hydration break, bore fruit with clearer chances and shots that put Courtois in difficulty. Lamine Yamal tried his luck with a free-kick that the goalkeeper blocked. But the goal came from an action that also started with the Rocafonda native, who left Doku rooted to the spot and assisted for Olmo's shot. Courtois did not parry well enough and Fabián, who had advanced his position, surprised by finishing a dead ball into the back of the net.

The first goal conceded

It seemed like the same script as the Austria match, where after chewing sand at the beginning, Spain managed to open the pot of essences. The first half ended with nine shots from La Roja, three on target and over 60% possession... but with the match tied. This is because Belgium, with their only shot on goal, managed to equalize the score thanks to a header from De Ketelaere, who beat Cubarsí's mark on a cross from the wing. It was the first goal Spain had conceded in this World Cup. But it was also the first real shot on target that Unai Simón received, a bit slow on his reflexes in the action.

The second half began with a deceptive sense of danger in favor of Spain. It accepted the exchange of blows, running from end to end, attacking and also being attacked. There were more arrivals from De la Fuente's team, but the clearest chance was a shot by De Cuyper into the side netting. It was then that the Spanish coach said enough and brought in Pedri to bring some order. Also Ferran, who replaced Baena and had the task of attacking down the left flank where Baena had been quite unnoticeable. In the end, he ended up in the center after the reappearance of Nico Williams, a forward mistreated by injuries who has been called up for the World Cup more for his reputation than for what he can offer on the pitch.

Another goal at the end of the match

Although Belgium was not clear from the start, Courtois' injury in the 70th minute was key for the Red Devils to retreat even further. The Belgians left another war veteran, Lukaku, who had come on in the second half, hanging. Meanwhile, they tried to defend the score. But nothing was the same. Spain attacked and attacked and found their reward in a play invented by Cubarsí, who was being floated and dared to shoot. The ball went very hard and Lammens couldn't block it. And there appeared Mikel Merino, the hero of the match against Portugal, to put his foot in and score a goal that qualified Spain.

But before Spain could sing victory, Belgium attacked desperately in the final minutes and the red team needed Laporte to be key, preventing a goal after a bad exit from Unai. A final warning for sailors, taking into account that the opponent in the semifinals is France and that it has more firepower than the Belgians. But that will be another story.