Spain’s 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-final Los Angeles Stadium was neither a masterpiece of tactics, nor an exhibition of passing for 90 minutes. It was a victory of grim, unrepeatable inevitability.
For the second knockout game in a row, Luis de la Fuente put on his watch, turned to his bench and unleashed a player who is rapidly turning super-sub status into an art form.
Their victory books Spain’s place in the semi-finals where they face a terrifying French side, but they have dragged themselves to the point on their hands and knees.
A first-half slugfest
The first half was less a test of wits and tactical nous, and more of a heavyweight separation of the two teams into their correct classes. Spain dominated from the outset. A space opened up on the edge of the Belgium box in the 30th minute and Pedro Porro deliverd a cross to Dani Olmo who shot towards the goal first time. Belgain goalkeeper Courtois deflected it but Fabian Ruiz was quick to get to it and smashed home the first goal.
Rather than pack back into defense, Belgium team pushed higher, exploiting the space Spain's advanced fullbacks left behind them. 11 minutes later on the stroke of half-time Charles De Ketelaere ghosted behind the Spanish centre backs and met a pass in behind with a deft header to make the score tie 1-1.
The anatomy of a dagger
The entire second half was a brutal slugfest. The relentless Californian sun made passing and pace a thing of the past and by the 80th minute both midfields looked completely drained of energy. Spain had the majority of the ball, but Belgian defence did well to block up space and shut down Spain’s attempts. They limitied Spain to ambitious long range shots from Lamine Yamal and Co.
Then, in the 85th minute, Dani Olmo walked off for Mikel Merino and the stadium collectively knew that history was about to be made. In three minutes Merino did it again. In the 88th minute, as a bouncing ball fell to a fortunate Spanish player in the Belgium box, Merino pounced on the ball ahead of all the players and finished. A sublime touch set the ball to control and another placed the ball into the far bottom corner.
It’s not luck anymore.
When a guy comes off the bench and scores the winner against Germany in Euro 2024, against Portugal, and now against Belgium, it means he understands the spaces that open up when everyone else is exhausted.
Next up: The ultimate test against France
This result put Spain into the semi-final. In a titanic tactical clash against the French side who are on an invincible run. But one of France’s biggest weaknesses all summer has been the late-game managment. When the game goes down to the wire and it comes down to pure grit and desperation, Spain might have the edge. Spain are able to keep the ball for prolonged periods to get to that point and once they get there, they know the right button to push.
Add us as a preferred source on Google