Spain vs Belgium: La Roja's Record-Breaking Defence Meets a Golden Generation Finally Clicking
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
A Record-Breaking Defence Against a Team Finding Its Feet
Spain arrive in Inglewood with a defensive record that has never been matched at a World Cup.
Their 1-0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16, sealed by a stoppage-time Mikel Merino shot, extended their run to six consecutive matches without conceding.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon has now gone 519 minutes without picking the ball out of his own net, breaking the previous tournament record held by Italy's Walter Zenga since 1990.
The Portugal win also closed the book on one of football's great careers. Cristiano Ronaldo, the only player to score in six consecutive World Cups and the all-time leader in international goals, confirmed afterward that his tournament career is over.
"Sad. It's normal after being eliminated like this. I've given everything, I've given my best, and I leave with a clear conscience. This is soccer, this is life for a soccer player. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose." (Cristiano Ronaldo, after Portugal's elimination)
Spain may have scaled through Portugal following Nuno Mendes’ injury, but they face an entirely different beast in Belgium. Holding Neto, Felix, and a 41-year old Ronaldo is one thing.
Extending that new World Cup clean sheet record against Lukaku, Doku, De Ketelaere, and De Bruyne will be the true test for La Roja. See our expert’s Spain vs Belgium prediction.
Belgium: A Golden Generation Watching From the Bench
Belgium's route to this quarter-final has been unusual. Their 4-1 win over the USA in the Round of 16 was built almost entirely on contributions from outside the country's most decorated attacking names.
Kevin De Bruyne never left the bench, and Jeremy Doku did not start. Leaving Charles De Ketelaere to score twice and Hans Vanaken to add a third before Romelu Lukaku, introduced from the bench, finished the scoring in stoppage time.
"It's a great feeling to put out this performance in this game and to go through. It's amazing for the team and for the country." (Charles De Ketelaere, Belgium forward)
Rudi Garcia's side had gone close to missing the knockout rounds altogether during the group stage, and their form across the tournament has been inconsistent at best.
But the sheer squad depth on show against the USA, three different goalscorers without needing their two biggest stars, hints at a team capable of raising its level significantly when required. And that depth is exactly what Belgium will need today.
Depth Advantage and Courtois’ Challenge Against Free Firing Spanish Side?
Thibaut Courtois, now 34, remains one of the most experienced goalkeepers left in the competition and will be central to any hopes of containing Spain's fluid attack.
The Real Madrid man will be key to any chance of a Belgium win against a Spain side that have scored nine goals in their last five games.
But while it’s true that La Roja have barely been troubled at the other end, a team that can call on a fit-again De Bruyne and Doku from the bench gives Garcia options that few of Spain's previous opponents have had.
Whether that flips the best betting sites’ odds leaning on Spain to win is the question this quarter-final is built around.
A Rivalry Level at One Apiece
Spain and Belgium have met at the World Cup twice before, and history is split evenly between them:
- Their first meeting came in the 1986 quarter-finals in Mexico, when Belgium advanced on penalties after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.
- Four years later, Spain won the rematch in the group stage at Italy 1990, a 2-1 victory built on goals from Michel and Alberto Gorriz.
- The teams have not met at a World Cup since, and their only meeting of any kind since then was a 2016 friendly that Spain won 2-0.
Whoever wins today breaks the deadlock for good and advances to face France in the semi-final after they beat Morocco 2-0 yesterday.
