07/09/26 04:43:00
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07/09 16:42 CDT Unbeaten Spain meets star-powered Belgium in the World Cup
quarterfinals
Unbeaten Spain meets star-powered Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinals
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- Spain hasn't lost and hasn't even conceded a single
goal at this year's World Cup. La Roja is unbeaten in 36 straight competitive
matches since March 2023.
This lofty standard of play clearly doesn't scare Belgium, which is on a
surging trajectory of its own heading into the teams' World Cup quarterfinal
match on Friday.
While Spain has been Europe's most consistent winner for the past 3 1/2 years,
Belgium has played its way into position for what could be the final chance for
its full golden generation of stars to do something spectacular together.
The tantalizing clash at SoFi Stadium matches a pre-tournament favorite and the
reigning European champions against Belgium, which has never quite reached its
full potential despite the big-money stars across its roster. Yet goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois says Belgium realizes the opportunity it has after blowing out
the co-host United States 4-1 on Monday in its best performance of the
tournament and extending the Red Devils' own unbeaten streak to 18 matches
across all competitions.
"I think they're one of the favorites to win it, so obviously we start as the
underdog against them," said Courtois, who has been at Real Madrid since 2018.
"But in football, everything is possible, and I believe that we can win, with
all respect. But obviously they are the favorite."
While Spain has struggled to score occasionally over the past month, its
defense has remained perfect, with Rodri orchestrating the effort superbly from
midfield. Goalkeeper Unai Simn has played a World Cup-record 609 consecutive
minutes without conceding, racking up another World Cup record of six straight
clean sheets dating back to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Simn has only had to make six saves in five World Cup matches, but Belgium has
enough offensive talent to make any goalkeeper work --- including Kevin De
Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, playmaker Leandro
Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere, who had two goals against the Americans.
Despite a wealth of good players around teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Spain
hasn't scored with as much flair as Belgium in this tournament, getting seven
of its nine goals at the World Cup in two routs of overmatched Saudi Arabia and
Austria. La Roja managed only Mikel Merino's clutch injury-time goal while
beating Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16.
But striker Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals in Spain's first appearance at
SoFi Stadium last week, leading Spain to a 3-0 rout of Austria.
"I think we've managed to build a really solid core group," Oyarzabal said
Thursday. "Regardless of whether things go well or badly, or who's playing, the
team responds, and I think that's crucial. We've achieved something very
difficult: creating that kind of unity within the national team."
Belgium has been to the World Cup quarterfinals more recently than Spain. The
veteran Belgian stars were youngsters eight years ago when the Red Devils made
the semifinals in Russia, while Spain hadn't won a knockout match since winning
the World Cup in 2010.
Injury concerns for Belgium and Spain
Belgium lost midfielder Amadou Onana to a knee injury this week, forcing a
tactical change to preserve its defensive structure. That change might simply
be the return of De Bruyne, who likely didn't play against the U.S. to keep him
in top condition for Friday's match. Winger Jrmy Doku is thought to be
healthy now, but hasn't consistently played well at the World Cup.
Nico Williams is expected to be fit after being limited earlier in the World
Cup, and Spain otherwise appears to be in good health.
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