All articles tagged with #spain
France lead The Athletic’s post-quarterfinal rankings with six straight wins and a stingy defense, while Spain sit second after Merino’s late winner against Belgium; Argentina remains third as knockouts loom, with a tantalising prospect of a France–Spain semi on the horizon and Argentina set to face Switzerland next.
Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a rebound from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Mikel Merino to score the late winner as Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal, eliminating Belgium. Lammens had come on for the injured Courtois and faced heavy online criticism after the costly mistake.
Belgium’s World Cup quarterfinal against Spain ended in a 1-0 defeat after a spate of injuries and a late substitution. Thibaut Courtois left the field with an apparent injury, and 24-year-old Senne Lammens made his World Cup debut only to parry a shot straight to Mikel Merino for the rebound and the winner. Courtois said he could have stayed on, while coach Rudi Garcia defended the decision to protect players. The setback marks the possible end of Belgium’s golden generation, though young talents like Joaquin Seys and Doku offered hope for the future.
Spain is pursuing a low-risk, possession-dominant game under Luis de la Fuente, leaning on a stout defense and a measured midfield to grind out results rather than chase flashy wins. With Rodri anchoring and a flexible midfield that can drop Pedri for Fabian Ruiz or Dani Olmo, Spain has tightened its structure and suffocated opponents, as seen in the win over Belgium, setting up a likely France tie and a pragmatic route to World Cup glory.
Lamine Yamal says France should fear Spain after a late Merino goal helped Spain beat Belgium 2-1 to reach the World Cup 2026 semi-final against France in Dallas.
Substitute Mikel Merino came on in the 85th minute and, within two minutes, fired in an 88th-minute winner as Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup 2026 quarter-final. Belgium’s hopes were dashed after Thibaut Courtois withdrew with an injury earlier and Charles De Ketelaere’s leveller had briefly levelled the tie, but Merino’s late strike sealed Spain’s place in the semi-finals while he dedicated the moment to his father and his newborn son, Marco, who attended the match.
Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles to reach the World Cup semi-final against France. Ruiz put Spain ahead, De Ketelaere equalised, and Mikel Merino struck late after Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured and Senne Lammens came on; Lammens’ spill set up Merino’s winner, with Yamal earning man of the match as Spain advance.
A fast-spreading forest fire near Los Gallardos in Andalusia killed 11 people, including foreign nationals, as record heat intensified the blaze; authorities evacuated nearby communities, Spain deployed around 200 military personnel to assist, and officials suspect a downed power line as the likely ignition source, with the fire burning thousands of acres.
Trump’s bid to overturn a FIFA suspension ahead of the US-Belgium match backfires by galvanizing Belgium, who cruise to a knockout win while celebrating with national pride; the piece also highlights Belgium’s airline stunts and royal visits, and threads through Spain’s Catalan independence politics and broader Europe-wide World Cup fever.
Spain and Belgium meet in the World Cup quarterfinal led by Oyarzabal and Lukaku, with a semifinal against France looming; betting angles highlight both teams to score and over 2.5 goals, suggesting a likely open clash.
A fast-spreading wildfire near Los Gallardos in Almería, southern Spain, has killed at least 12 people and left 23 missing amid a severe heatwave and strong winds. Evacuations are underway as hundreds of personnel and about 30 aircraft fight the blaze; authorities say many victims may be foreign nationals, including Britons, and the UK Foreign Office is coordinating with Spain while investigators examine the cause. Satellite imagery shows extensive areas burned.
Arsenal sign Spain international Ona Batlle on a four-year deal (with an option for a fifth) after her exit from Barcelona, adding a highly-rated full-back and World Cup winner who has starred for Barcelona and Manchester United.
Deadly wildfires in Spain’s Almería region amid a heatwave have left at least 12 people dead and 23 missing, as authorities evacuate towns and firefighters work to contain the blazes.
Al Jazeera’s World Cup 2026 quarterfinal preview ranks the eight remaining teams, with France touted as the favorite and Spain, England, and Argentina close behind; dark horses Norway and Morocco are highlighted as potential disruptors, while Belgium and Switzerland are presented as less likely to contend. The piece outlines expected narratives and possible semifinal paths, underscoring France’s attacking depth and defense, Spain’s defensive prowess, England’s mix of talent and injury concerns, and Messi-led Argentina’s continued threat as the tournament heads toward a dramatic conclusion.
At a NATO summit in Ankara, Donald Trump said he instructed the Treasury to cut off all trade with Spain, calling it a “wasted cause” and pressing Pedro Sánchez to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. Spain argues it already spends about 2% and ranks seventh among NATO members, while Moncloa says it will respond calmly with supporting data. The confrontation follows prior threats over the use of U.S. bases near Iran and reflects ongoing tensions over allied burden-sharing in Europe.