Spain's defence faces Belgium's challenge

They battle for last-four berth tonight (1:00 am as BST)

FE Team | Published: July 09, 2026 21:56:25

LOS ANGELES, July 09 (Reuters): Spain and Belgium will battle for a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals on Saturday (1:00 am as per BST) in a quarter-final that pits the tournament's most consistent side against a Belgium team whose confidence has surged after a dramatic knockout run.
Spain are unbeaten in 35 matches, a run that has turned Luis de la Fuente's team from promising European champions into a team that exert confident control over their opponents.
Since their surprise penalty shootout exit against Morocco in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under Luis Enrique, Spain have been remodelled by De la Fuente, the former youth team coach who knows many of his current players from their formative years.
The result is a national side that often plays with the cohesion of a club team: disciplined, organised, balanced and difficult to break down.
Under De la Fuente, Spain won the Nations League in 2023, claimed a long-awaited fourth European Championship title in 2024 and reached another Nations League final the following year, losing on penalties to Portugal after a 0-0 draw.
Portugal, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, were also Spain's last victims in this World Cup, beaten 1-0 by a last-gasp goal that underlined one of their major strengths - their substitutes.
Mikel Merino scored the winner after coming off the bench, with fellow substitute Ferran Torres providing the assist only minutes after entering the match.
Spain's strength is not built around one obvious match-winner, but in collective depth. At Euro 2024, they scored 15 goals, with 10 different players finding the net -- a tournament record for the number of scorers in one team in a single edition.
Rather than relying on a single superstar, Spain have consistently shared the attacking burden. That collective approach helped them win Euro 2024, where 10 different players scored a tournament-record 15 goals, and it remains a key feature of their current World Cup campaign.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, still regaining full fitness after a hamstring injury earlier this year, has nevertheless shown flashes of brilliance capable of unsettling any defence.
Belgium, meanwhile, have built momentum after an inconsistent group stage. They recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 in the last 16 before producing their best performance of the tournament in a commanding 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes those performances have convinced the squad they are capable of upsetting the European champions.
"Everyone on our team realises it's possible. I think we have a strong squad with qualities that Spain will have to take into account," he told reporters ahead of training on Thursday.
"There are surprises in every tournament … the Champions League, the Europa League, the World Cup.
"There are always surprises, and I think we can be one of them. Eliminating the European champions would obviously be a huge upset. The confidence is there," he said after a 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Tuesday.
"People were a bit disappointed in us, but we've set that right. We're getting better and better," Courtois insisted.
"Spain is the favourite, of course. They are excellent in possession, and when they lose the ball, they press quickly. That's where the key lies: knowing how to quickly exploit the space behind their defence."
Courtois acknowledged Spain's quality in possession and their aggressive pressing after losing the ball, saying Belgium's best chance will be to exploit the space behind Spain's defence on the counterattack.
The veteran goalkeeper, who spent 11 years playing in Spain with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, also praised Yamal's ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations.
Belgium, however, have suffered a major setback with midfielder Amadou Onana ruled out after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the victory over the United States. His absence leaves coach Rudi Garcia with a significant gap to fill against a Spanish midfield that thrives on controlling possession.