Harry Desmond recalls his time abroad in Belgium and Germany during the 2015/16 season, noting, “I did my year abroad in Belgium and Germany in 2015/16, and my university in Germany had a big screen outside the canteen showing the Euros games,” He reminisces about being surrounded by Italy fans in Belgium’s opening match and affirms, “I have a vivid memory of being vastly outnumbered by Italy supporters during Belgium’s opening match. Since then, Les Diables Rouges have always been my favourites for tournaments after the UK teams. “Other memories from that tournament included having to walk 3 miles home after Germany’s semi-final because the trams were too full, and cheering on Portugal in the final along with my Portuguese friends. It will probably always be my favourite football tournament, the communal/international experience is really something else.”
Desmond continues to share his fond memories, saying, “Hola. Any word on Williams, is he fit?” He concludes, “When I watch him, my heart rate doesn’t change,”
Reflecting on his own experience in Spain during the 2021-22 season, Desmond notes the disappointment of missing out on a summer tournament due to Qatar’s scheduling.
Shane Cahill inquires, “It doesn’t seem like he’s 19, the way he takes on responsibility is enviable,”
It appears Williams is still sidelined. He played a mere half during the group stage and has yet to feature in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Álex Baena has stepped up in his absence, providing Spain with greater control in possession. Perhaps they are saving Williams for a potential match against France.
Pau Cubarsí has made a significant impact alongside Aymeric Laporte.
Cubarsí in particular has been superb. For all the talk of Lamine Yamal, the kid who eclipses all else, it is the other teenager at the other end that has most impressed. Born in tiny Estanyol, a village with a population of around 200, the son of a carpenter who ran a family business going back four generations, Cubarsí is the second youngest man ever to make his debut for Spain. Lamine Yamal is the first. The day Cubarsí made his Barcelona debut, he and Lamine Yamal were younger than Robert Lewandowski put together.
There was something about him that was different from the start. “Sod it, I’ll say it: we have the best goalkeepers at the World Cup,” Barcelona’s then-coach Xavi Hernández said. De la Fuente had given him his Spain debut and although he decided not to take him to the Euros, judging it a little soon, that calmness is clear here. “I hope the Belgians have been practicing their Trumpian tiny-fist dance since that USA game. It was the only disappointing aspect of an otherwise convincing performance. As for the Spanish, a red muleta celebration would be a fun provocation to the bull currently threatening to end all trade with them. He still might find himself handing them a big chuck of gold in nine days time” Simón says. Cubarsí has completed 96% of his 449 passes, and not just sideways: 34 of his 71 against Portugal went into the opposition’s half. There were 19 recoveries, 23 defensive actions completed. Only Paolo Maldini reached as many clean sheets so fast.
Spain has achieved a historic milestone by advancing this far in a World Cup without conceding a single goal.
Sid Lowe reports from Los Angeles, highlighting that Unai Simón has faced stiff competition to maintain his position as the starting goalkeeper.
Not so long ago, Simón admitted that he had once wondered whether it was all worth it. Playing in goal, he says, can be a bit “Good morning it’s 1:25 and I’m desperately trying to stay awake for the match. Shades of Qatar where the old sleep schedule went down the pan. I for one am hoping for a Belgium win. I have not enjoyed any of the Spain matches (apart from Cape Verde, snigger). I’m Costa Rican so I have no skin in the game as they say but I do have Norway in the sweepstakes. Thanks as always for the the great commentary and for so far keeping me awake!”. The front pages are for others. The good ones are, anyway: the “this assessment differs from that of the Red Devils’ medical staff” was his. All year, he has been at the centre of the debate. How could he not be when Athletic Club were struggling and those competing with him are David Raya, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and Joan García, the best in La Liga? “The better the quality of the opponent, the more clinical you have to be,” Simón insisted a few days ago.
For Luis de la Fuente, there was never any doubt regarding Simón’s abilities, despite the surrounding chatter. He has coached Simón through various youth teams, leading them to multiple victories, including the under-19 and under-21 Euros, Olympic silver, and the Nations League. This bond is akin to family, and now Spain appears to be on the rise again, with Simón rewriting history as no other nation has reached the sixth match of a men’s World Cup without conceding.
Spain has made one alteration to the lineup that triumphed over Portugal, bringing in Fabián Ruiz for Pedri in midfield. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne returns to the starting eleven for Belgium after sitting out the USA match due to injury, replacing Amadou Onana, who suffered a ruptured ACL. Jérémy Doku also regains his place in the lineup, taking over from Dodi Lukébakio.
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, J García, Pubill, Grimaldo, E García, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Muñoz, Iglesias, Pedri.
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere. Subs: Lammens, Penders, Theate, Witsel, Lukaku, Lukébakio, Meunier, De Winter, Seys, Moreira, Vanaken, Saelemaekers, Fernandez-Pardo.
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
An early glance at the mail shows a mix of sentiments:
“I hope the Belgians have been practicing their Trumpian tiny-fist dance since that USA game. It was the only disappointing aspect of an otherwise convincing performance. As for the Spanish, a red muleta celebration would be a fun provocation to the bull currently threatening to end all trade with them. He still might find himself handing them a big chuck of gold in nine days time,”
writes Justin Kavanagh.
“Good morning it’s 1:25 and I’m desperately trying to stay awake for the match. Shades of Qatar where the old sleep schedule went down the pan. I for one am hoping for a Belgium win. I have not enjoyed any of the Spain matches (apart from Cape Verde, snigger). I’m Costa Rican so I have no skin in the game as they say but I do have Norway in the sweepstakes. Thanks as always for the great commentary and for so far keeping me awake!”
– Alexandra Fullerton.
Spain and Belgium clash for the first time in a decade, which is notable given the establishment of the Nations League. Their last encounter was a friendly in September 2016, marked by Spain’s 2-0 victory with David Silva scoring a brace, much to the dismay of Belgian fans.
The previous meeting in a major tournament dates back to Italia 90, where Spain triumphed in Verona, securing top position in their group thanks to Alberto Górriz’s goal. Their only past World Cup matchup was in 1986, where Belgium advanced after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Preparations for this match have been slightly complicated for Belgium due to a fitness dispute regarding Zeno Debast. The center-back made his World Cup debut from the bench against the USA but his club insists he is unfit to play. The Belgian FA stated that their medical staff’s assessment differs from that of Sporting, and consequently, Debast will not feature in the quarter-final.
A daunting challenge awaits the winner, as they will face a formidable French squad that recently overwhelmed Morocco.
Jonathan Wilson observed:
How can you stop France? You can defend with great organisation and concentration, block and tackle and harry and work, your keeper can make two or three excellent saves, and then one of their forwards conjures a goal like that.
Raphaël Jucobin added:
In his pre-match press conference, Deschamps conceded that his team could still improve in front of goal. “The better the quality of the opponent, the more clinical you have to be,” he underlined. As Les Bleus prepare to leave the east coast for the first time since their arrival in the US for their semi-final in Dallas, there is a sense that they will be leaving the comfort zone they have established both on and off the pitch.
Welcome to the second quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup. After overcoming the USA in the Round of 16, Belgium’s aging golden generation faces the relentless force of Spain, who have yet to concede a goal in this tournament and have not progressed this far since their 2010 victory.
The World Cup credentials of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku are indisputable; they previously defeated Brazil in their last quarter-final. However, Lamine Yamal’s true potential remains to be seen at this level. The Barcelona winger, who turns 19 on Monday, has only one goal and no assists in the tournament, making him one of the few world-class talents yet to showcase his abilities. Will today mark his breakout moment?
The victor of this match will proceed to confront France in the semi-finals next Tuesday in Dallas.
Kick-off is set for midday local time in Los Angeles, which corresponds to 8 pm BST and 5 am AEST. Feel free to reach out via email. Let’s get started.
