Spain edges Belgium and will face France in World Cup semifinal

Spain edges Belgium and will face France in World Cup semifinal as Mikel Merino delivered another decisive moment in the knockout stage. Four days after scoring a late equalizer as a substitute against Portugal, Merino came on against Belgium in the 86th minute and scored in the 88th to secure a 2-1 quarterfinal win on Friday. Spain’s Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium in the 41st after Spain had conceded its first World Cup goal. Belgium’s starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced out by injury at 71 minutes, with Senne Lammens making a crucial error from Pau Cubarsí’s shot. Spain reaches the semifinal for the first time since 2010, where it will play tournament favorite France in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.