Spain Overcomes Belgium: World Cup 2026 Match Highlights
Spain defeated Belgium in the World Cup, ending Unai Simon's record clean sheet streak, while Mikel Merino continued his heroics off the bench.
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In a dramatic World Cup encounter, Spain defeated Belgium to continue their tournament journey. The match was defined by individual milestones and several controversial talking points.
Mikel Merino once again proved his worth as Spain's ultimate super-sub. The midfielder, currently playing for Arsenal, scored the winning goal shortly after entering the pitch. It marks his second consecutive game scoring as a substitute, proving his efficiency in limited minutes.
For Spain, this was the first match of the tournament where they conceded a goal. Prior to this, goalkeeper Unai Simon had maintained a clean sheet streak of 649 minutes, setting a new world record.
Belgium faced personnel struggles again as Thibaut Courtois suffered another muscular injury. He was replaced by Senne Lammens, who received public backing from Courtois despite his error. Meanwhile, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia offered an optimistic post-match assessment, despite his team struggling to create significant scoring chances.
The game also saw an intense moment between Axel Witsel and Rodri, resulting in a heated on-field exchange. Additionally, the decision by FIFA to name Lamine Yamal the Player of the Match sparked debate, as many observers felt other players, such as Rodri or Jeremy Doku, were equally deserving of the recognition.