Courtois in tears, Lammens’ howler & Merino again: Belgium’s World Cup ends as Spain sail through

Last Updated on 10 July 2026

Belgium had held Spain for 87 minutes. They had neutralised Lamine Yamal. They had absorbed 2.08 expected goals and bent without breaking.

They had already absorbed the pre-match blow of Youri Tielemans going down in the warm-up. And then, with the clock running out and extra time beckoning, it unravelled in the most painful way imaginable.

A goalkeeper who has barely played international football, and was making his World Cup debut, had to carry the weight of it alone.

Youri Tielemans down before kick-off, Thibaut Courtois off in tears: Belgium crash out

Thibaut Courtois went down to make a routine save from Mikel Oyarzabal’s shot in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he pulled something and was replaced in tears by Senne Lammens. The Manchester United goalkeeper came on for only his third international appearance.

“I took a goal kick and I felt a lot of pain in my quadriceps,” Courtois said afterward. “I informed the coaching staff but in the end the manager decided to take me off.” He walked to the bench visibly devastated, in what could be his final game representing Belgium.

Lammens became the first goalkeeper other than Courtois to represent Belgium at a World Cup since Geert De Vlieger against Brazil in 2002. He marked the occasion in the worst possible way. In 88th minute, Lammens could not hold on to a shot, spilling it to Mikel Merino.

It was Merino’s second match-winning goal from the bench at this tournament in 16 touches across two substitute appearances, a remarkable record for a man who does not start. Belgium, with five shots and 0.37 xG, had defended heroically for 87 minutes.

Belgium had also suffered the pre-match loss of Tielemans to injury, forcing De Bruyne to captain the side from the outset. Two goalkeepers unavailable, their captain injured before kick-off, and still they nearly forced extra time.

Spain head to the semifinals but Belgium’s heartbreak is tough to see

Spain had gone 649 consecutive minutes without conceding a World Cup goal before De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute the first team to breach La Roja’s defence since Japan in 2022.

De Ketelaere was brilliant throughout, his movement and composure the one genuine threat Belgium carried against a Spain side that dominated possession and created 17 shots. Rodri’s control that suffocated Belgium’s attempts to counter.

Now, Spain face France in the semi-finals on Tuesday, who came through after beating Morocco, in a repeat of their Nations League final earlier this year. Belgium go home having been beaten by their own misfortune as much as by Spain.

Lammens did not ask to be here. Courtois did not choose to get injured. The game, and the tournament, simply refused to be kind to them. But, then again, these are the fine margins that define professional football.