FULL LIVE REACTION: Spain vs. Belgium! Mikel Merino TO THE RESCUE! | ESPN FC
Tune into ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol and Mark Donaldson to recap Spain vs. Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN
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[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Welcome to ESPNFC Live, presented by Mobile. And for only the second time in their history, Spain are through to a World Cup semi-final. And just like they did in the last round against Portugal, they got a late winner. And just like they did in the last round against Portugal, they got a late winner by Mikel Merino. Hello, my name is Mark Donaldson. Alongside a man who played in the World Cup in 1986, Stevie Nicol. Just like the last round, Stevie, I think we were preparing for another half hour and we didn't get it. But when you think back at this game, three goals and a lot happening, you just wonder if the 71st minute could have been the turning point in the game because that is when Thibaut Courtois, who saved so much of Spain's attempts this game, had to go off injured. And the man who replaced him had a howler as Merino tapped home. How significant a moment was Courtois going off injured with a left thigh contusion? >> Well, considering what happened to with Lemans then absolutely there's no question that that that was the the point when the game turned. Um No surprise Spain were the team on the front foot. Uh Belgium looking particularly second half I thought better on the counter. Um I mean it took them to get that equalizer to actually wake up in this game. Uh but I think overall you know Spain no question were the team that were that were forcing things. Um Courtois yeah made You know Courtois is a strange one because a lot of people would say that the saves he made when you rework at them well the saves he should make but you know you forget that the reason he should save them is because of his positioning. You know he's in the right position to make it a straightforward save. You know other keepers will be in a different position having to make spectacular saves. Everybody's gushing about how spectacular they are where at the end of the day Courtois because of his phenomenal positional sense just always seems to you you always you always feel he's going to make the save and generally he does. So yeah there's no question the the thing that has changed this match because of the unfortunate situation with Lemans not not parrying the ball away comfortably not saving it actually didn't do anything with it and it just rebounds out and as you said Mikel Merino he's there to smash it into the roof of the net. So yeah there's no question it was a huge huge turning point in the game. >> What did you make of Belgium's game plan today from holding Spain for half an hour to going behind to then to the surprise of most getting back on level terms and then keeping it tight up until a couple of minutes before the end of the 90. >> Well, they were unfortunate that right before the kickoff they lost Tielemans. Um, you know, he's an important part of their midfield and they got totally dominated for 99% of that first half. And as you said, you know, the fact that they got the equalizer was it was a bit of a stunner. >> [laughter] >> And and I think it actually stunned Spain as much as anything because for the rest of the first half and probably the first 5 minutes, 10 minutes of the second half, it almost looked like level pegging, but gradually as the game wore on, Spain again took more control of it. Uh, and Belgium were trying to hit on the counter, which couple of times they looked dangerous, but but really never never troubled Simon to be honest. Uh, and considering his performance in the last the last 10 minutes, coming out and getting walked past and almost losing a goal and then dropping one and the ref gave a foul against against Lukaku. So, yeah, probably a good job Simon didn't have that much to do. But, yeah, Spain, in my opinion, overall in the 90 minutes, thoroughly deserved it. I just feel bad that it's going to be looked upon as Lamens coming on and making a mess of a strike, but the truth is Spain thoroughly deserved to go through. >> So, the opening goal comes on the half hour. Now, before kickoff, bit of a surprise for some, Pedri doesn't start, Fabian Ruiz does. But, Fabian Ruiz is a left-footed player. That gave them a bit more balance. And it was Dani Olmo's shot that was wasn't spilled, it was well saved by Courtois, but Fabian Ruiz was in the right place at the right time. What does he add to the Spain side that maybe they haven't had before or maybe that's something a little bit different. >> Well, I'd like to say that I think I think the fact that Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo started and Pedri didn't is I I a lot of it's to do with Pedri. I don't think Pedri has been particularly good in this tournament. Uh I certainly don't think in the last game he he was anywhere close to the Pedri that we're used to, certainly with Barcelona. So, I can honestly say I wasn't surprised that Pedri didn't start. And I think the fact that when you have Ruiz and Olmo, both of them, in my opinion, are going to get in the box way more often than Pedri. Now, some would say that would take away from the from the the passing in the middle of the park, but I I don't think the passing in the middle of the park was affected by Pedri not being there. Um so, yeah, I think in in many ways have Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo ahead of Pedri um and not Pedri, sorry, but Dani. The two of those guys, I think [snorts] absolutely actually, because you only have Orriols up front, I think it helps Spain in not in a strange way, but in a good way. >> What I I really liked, not just in this game from from Spain, but coming into the tournament, Marcos Llorente was seen as the as as the starting right back, which is understandable. He's a very good player. But it seems to have had a better kind of there seems to be a better relationship between Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro. And let's go back to to kind of how the goal comes about. And twice Lamine Yamal has kind of gone to make the run, then cut back, got it from Pedro Porro or a teammate, then Porro's gone in behind. He's put the ball in for Dani Olmo's shot. But I mentioned Fabián Ruiz as well on the other side. You've got Cucurella, you've got Ruiz in front of him, and then you've got Baena. As a former full back yourself, how important is it and how difficult is it for the opposition when you've got these kind of two players, whether it's right back, right winger, or left back, left winger, having such a good understanding? >> Well, I I I think from an attacking sense, Pedro Porro, again, I thought at the end of last season when Spurs were struggling and fighting to stay in the Premier League, I thought he was one of the best players. You know, you talk about heart and desire and also that a bit of quality going forward and the runs he makes, no question, takes players away from Lamine Yamal. And and that in in turn gives him more space. And I think if you look at it, it does the same on the other side, you know, Cucurella, because of the running of of Fabián Ruiz in the box, takes people away from him and means that he can go stand as well. So, so yeah, I think I think no question going forward when you have two full-backs who make clever runs, you know, they're not just runs for the sake of it. You know, they're they're they're in tune with with where the ball is, they're in tune with particularly Lamine Yamal, you know, Pedro Porro has a great understanding of what Yamal is looking to do. He can He can work out by his body language whether he wants to go on the outside or whether he's going to come on the inside. And so he can then make his run accordingly. And I I guess that happens on both sides. From a defensive point of view, it's an absolute nightmare because the one thing you must have is communication because you need bodies, you need at least two and that means that you're one one-on-one on both both players which if Lamine Yamal's involved, that's not enough. So then you have to bring somebody else over which again opens up space in the middle if Yamal's got his head up and he can play a little pass. So, from a defensive point of view, particularly the two full-backs making good runs, um just just just a nightmare, just an absolute nightmare. >> Clean sheets against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Austria, Portugal, but not against Belgium. The run stops at 649 minutes. First time Unai Simon and the Spain defense had conceded for 649 minutes. Sometimes you look at goals, Stevie, and I suppose you do as a defender and think, how preventable was that? It's preventable if you get the cross stopped. But I thought that was a really good run by De Ketelaere to get in front of Cubarsi, I think it was. And two goals against the USA, and he's in the right place at the right time to get on the end of the Castagne cross for the equalizing goal. >> Yeah, well, it's a great ball from from Castagne, you know, obviously you have to you have to stop the cross initially, which which Spain couldn't do. Nice little ball from De Bruyne, and eventually Castagne with a ball in, but I once that ball's coming into the box, it then becomes a a battle between the center back and the center forward. And unfortunately for Cubarsi, I know I mean, I know he's only 19, and it probably seems a little harsh to to pick on a 19-year-old, but the fact is is that it becomes a one-on-one, you know, who's going to read the cross better, who's going to get there first, you know, who's who's going to do enough to put the other one off. And at the end of the day, Ketelaere won that battle against Cubarsi. He was too strong for him. He was too sharp in the mind because he got across the front of him, which as a center back you really can't allow because then you're in a no man's land. Um so, yeah, unfortunately for Cubarsi, he lost that one-on-one battle. Uh but to be fair, if you've lost one goal in how many was it? Six games you just reeled off there? >> 649 minutes. Yeah. >> Yeah, it's it's it's it's it's not too bad going. >> [laughter] >> It It's all right. It's all right. Um I'm intrigued by De Ketelaere because I remember him in Belgium, couldn't stop scoring, and he thoroughly deserved his move to Milan in Serie A, but he didn't get any Serie A goals for them, and he's not exactly done that well at Atalanta. Maybe this just could be the the star for him second time around. Does he have what it takes to play a a high level again? >> I think so. I think the end of the season at at Atlanta, I think he he he did well. He scored a few goals. And so, he would be he would bring that into this tournament. Uh and I would suggest that early on in the tournament, he wasn't getting any service. And regardless of whether it's Castelar or Vinicius Jr. or Mbappé, if you don't get your attackers the ball, then you're not going to get goals. Um but Belgium in the last couple of games in particular, um well, last three games, have gotten him some service, and he's delivered. And and I think there's no question that because of that good end of the season he had, he's come in with confidence. Uh and when you have confidence, you do things naturally. And he's shown that that he can be a natural number nine. >> Yeah, they came into this game, you're quite right, 4-1 against the USA, 3-2. That was quite the comeback. They looked dead and buried when they were 2-0 down late on against Senegal, but before that, scoring five against New Zealand. They've they've probably slightly overachieved given given what they have, but they did go in at the break 1-1. And I thought the game plan was good in the second half. They knew they were going to give most of the ball away, but they were pretty good with what they had. Now, we've had a few fans questions in. One of them I want to get to here. Were you surprised that the game was this close? Now, it's finished 2-1. Expected goals of 2.08 to 0.37. The possession, 68% to 32. The shots are 17 to five, but that counts for nothing. There's only one goal in it. >> Yeah, I mean, I guess it goes back to the old story about, you know, the Spain uh uh Spain really missing uh a bonafide center forward. Um and I guess performances this will bring that that question up again. Um, because with the amount of possession and the amount of time that they they were in that attacking third, you certainly expect them to create more and score more. Um, but this is a team that that doesn't score the amount of goals for the amount of possession it has. And it doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon. And that that means that they have to be tight at the back. You know, you're talking about >> [sighs] >> did Belgium overachieve? Well, the fact is at 1-0 in the 40th minute, I'm sitting thinking, how would Belgium be getting back in this game? And then all of a sudden Ketelaer gets his goal. So, yeah, I think I think Belgium have done well to get to the quarterfinal, no question. But in terms of Spain, because they're not putting the ball in the back of the net with the regularity compared with the possession they have in the attacking third, then they are relying on their defense. Uh, and of course, the further you go in this tournament, you're going to play against better better attackers, you know, better finishers, more clinical finishers. And so, that means that there's a lot of pressure on your defense. So, yeah, listen. Spain are in the semifinal of the World Cup and they deserve to be there. But, I think if you're if you're De la Fuente, you you're looking at those two things that we've been talking about. Can can we somehow turn the amount of possession in the attacking third into more goals >> [clears throat] >> to take a bit of pressure off the defense because, as I said, you know, today it was Ketelaer. Um, it's going to be Mbappé next. So, yeah, you can't you can't afford to you can't afford to waste your chances and you can't afford to give too many chances away. >> Just while you were talking about not having that striker. And Oyarzabal scores goals for them, but he's your he's not your natural number nine. I looked back at the last time they reached the semi-final, which of course is 2010, when they went on to win the World Cup against the Netherlands in South Africa. They had David Villa, and they had Pedro playing off him, and they had Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso and and Sergio Busquets. How would you compare that Spain side to this one? >> I think if you ask me which team I'd rather play in, I think I'd go back to the first one. >> [laughter] >> I'll be honest. I mean, in terms in terms of talent, I mean, I think that the first team that you came out with there individually in terms of talent is ahead of this team. Absolutely no question. Um but that that's unfair to this team, cuz this team deserves to be in the semi-final of the World Cup. They deserve to be >> Yeah. >> one of the the top four teams on the planet. Just a little tough when you're comparing them to one of the best group of players of all time. >> Do we now have the two best teams in this year's World Cup going against each other in the first semi-final, France against Spain? >> I think a little team called Argentina might have a an argument against that. Um >> Defensively, though. >> In terms of in terms of only I, uh you'd probably say Spain are a better team than Argentina. Cuz because for me the best team in the tournament is France. Best team in the world is France. I don't think I don't think there's any doubt about that. That doesn't mean that whoever they play, whether they beat Spain or let's say they play Argentina in the final and lose, these things can happen, but I I I don't think many people argue that France are the best team on the in the world right now. So, it becomes it becomes a choice of what you like. If you like passing and moving and silky football, then you're going to go with Spain. You know, they're better on the eye than Argentina. They certainly have been in this World Cup. Um Argentina have got it done. I don't really remember a performance that I could say from the first to the last minute Argentina was so dominant and so so good to watch on the eye. But it's about getting it done and when you've got a guy called Messi in your team, the chances are you're going to get it done nine times out of 10. So, yeah, personally I would suggest Argentina are just slightly ahead of Spain. Uh but then again, it depends what you what you prefer to watch. >> Another question from one of our viewers. Is this France's World Cup to lose? >> I think so. I think so. I'm in. In terms of attacking talent, look, France have not had a bit France France won the World Cup what, '98? >> Mhm. >> I think that's this team's better than that team. I think this is the best French team ever. I mean, where where is the weakness? Somebody tell me where the weakness is. I don't see one. And I think you know I think in terms of the attacking four, there is good attacking four as as is played in any World Cup. So, yeah, I'm in. Yeah, this this France team's frightening. Come on. >> Interesting you said that cuz Thierry Henry reckons this team might be even better than his team. And we've obviously had Frank Leboeuf on ESPN FC and he thinks the front four or the front three or however many you want has this team has better attacking options than that side and that that side was pretty good. >> Yeah, I I I don't think you can argue with that. No, no from what we're watching. You know, at the end of the day that you you you go with your eye and you can also go with facts. Um and if somebody said to any of us, "Who do you want to watch today?" We're all going to say we want to France. We want to see that front four. So So yeah, I don't I don't think I don't think it's a question. >> A lot of good questions coming through from our viewers. Here's another one. What would worry you most if you were Spain ahead of that semi-final against France? >> Um Kubasi and Laporte. I I again it's it's what my eyes telling me. >> Mhm. >> Um you can use stats and fact and facts to back an argument up. You know, losing one goal so far in this tournament is incredible. But they haven't faced what they're going to face in France. >> [clears throat] >> And listen with the ball technically they're both fantastic, but I I think defensively one-on-one in particular defending I don't think either of the two of them can can deal with Mbappé or or Dewey or Dembélé or certainly at least the way he's playing right now. No, the truth is there aren't many defenders right now who can deal with that lot. That may sound a little harsh on the two of them, but I do think one-on-one defending I think Laporte and Kubasi you can get at them. >> Mhm. >> If If you're allowed to that is. >> Yeah. Um as far as being the favorites in games are concerned, every game that Spain has played so far they've been the favorites, but they won't be in the semi-final. So what do you think De la Fuente does? Do you think he he doesn't worry too much about picking his team based on what the opposition will do or do you think right, okay, I've now got to look at Dewey or I've now got to look at Dembélé or I've now got to look at Mbappé and I've got to think right, do I play Porro in there? Do I play Cucurella there? Does he change his center-backs or do you just I that's his four? That's his favorite four that on the whole has got him the majority of this week cuz obviously your NT has has come in as well. Does he concern himself too much about France and maybe make changes because of that in the semi-final? >> [snorts] >> No, you can't you can't blow it up now. >> Right. >> You know, you've you've made it clear who you rely on defensively. Basically, your back five, your four, and your goalkeeper. He's made it clear who that is. And you go and blow that up now, everybody in that team's going to turn around and ask what you're doing. >> Why? >> They're going to question Well, hold on a second. You know, are we are we g