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Merino sends Spain to the semis, but La Roja need more from wasteful attack

You'd think a team boasting Lamine Yamal would score goals for fun, but to beat Belgium, Spain needed midfielder Mikel Merino to net the winner.

Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images

Spain vs. Belgium player ratings as Mikel Merino upstages Lamine Yamal World Cup quarterfinal

Merino: 'Surreal' to net Spain's WC winner again

A tale of two No. 10s: England's Bellingham, Norway's Ødegaard thriving at World Cup

Norway scouting report: What can England expect in their World Cup quarterfinal?

Top Headlines

QUANSAH HIT WITH BAN

England's Quansah gets 2-game ban for red card

Yuri CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images

Saka: Quansah's 2-game ban 'very frustrating'

TODAY AT THE WORLD CUP

Where has Infantino been? FIFA president clocks up nearly 50,000 miles on epic World Cup tour

Soobum Im - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

FIFA World Cup

JUNE 8

The eight most important players of the World Cup quarterfinals

Getty Images

Yellow card watch: Who is on a tightrope in WC QFs

Rodrigo Oropeza / AFP via Getty Images

THE END OF AN ERA

So, Ronaldo's World Cup era is over. Where did each tournament go wrong, and why?

Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Neymar was Ancelotti's gamble at the World Cup, and it failed

FUN AND GAMES

Pele, Messi, Haaland cards set records at auction

Goldin

Test your England knowledge in our World Cup quiz!

Free World Cup 2026 predictor: Simulate your road to the final

FIFA World Cup

Scaloni on Argentina's World Cup: 'Sometimes luck can be on your side'

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FIFA World Cup

Messi: World Cup semifinal against England will be a 'special match'

0:25

FIFA World Cup

Haaland: England are lucky to have Bellingham

0:41

England at World Cup 2026

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