Spain's defense had not allowed a goal all summer, and for 85 minutes on Friday it looked like Belgium's patched-together lineup might make that hold up. It didn't. Substitute Mikel Merino read a rebound better than anyone else in the box, turned it in, and gave Spain a 2-1 win at Los Angeles Stadium — the World Cup's temporary name for SoFi Stadium. The result books Luis de la Fuente's team a semifinal against France on Tuesday. Spain hasn't reached this stage of the tournament since its title-winning run in 2010.
