Mikel Merino inspired Spain football to overcome Belgium football in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals to set up a blockbuster clash with European heavyweights France in the next round.
The two teams faced off at the Los Angeles Stadium and it was Spain who struck first following a slick move down the right. Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro played a delightful one-two to beat a defensively minded Jeremy Doku before Porro’s cross picked out Dani Olmo in the box. His effort was stopped by Thibaut Courtois but the goalkeeper could only palm the ball into the path of Fabian Ruiz who slotted it home.
