The eternal bridesmaid clash between Spain and Belgium will take place tonight as both jostle for one of the semifinal tickets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain are closing in on a second global crown, while Belgium are yet to make headway with their promising squad.
The clash scheduled for Los Angeles will see the European sides fight for the slot of who will play either France or Morocco in the last four.
Belgium were almost out of the tournament in the last 16 before their comeback against dethroned African champions Senegal and were further convincing against hosts USA with a 4-1 victory in the last 16.
They could be hard to stop, having won their last four games heading into the tie. La Roja won the tournament 16 years ago in South Africa. They are now three wins from another taste of World Cup glory.
Both ended as group winners, and Luis de la Fuente’s side strolled past Austria in the first knockout round before ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream in the last-16 tie courtesy of a late goal from Mikel Merino.
This is Spain’s sixth World Cup quarter-final, having been eliminated in each of the first four. They then sent Paraguay out of the 2010 edition before finally lifting the trophy.
Spain will be going into the clash on the back of their solid defence that is yet to concede at the tournament.
They are also going into the Belgium clash on the back of six straight clean sheets at the World Cup.
De La Fuente will want to continue his run in the quarterfinals, having led the reigning European champions in all six major knockout matches to date.
Spain will therefore prove very difficult to stop, and history will weigh heavily on their side when meeting Belgium’s Red Devils. La Roja won nine of the nation’s last 11 meetings, since suffering defeat at Euro 1980.
Although Belgium were initially unconvincing at the beginning of the tournament, up til the last 32 clash against Senegal.
Having made a statement against the USA in the last 26, they will hope to stop Spain and progress past this stage, having been successful on two occasions.
Give or take, with a good performance, they can aim to replicate the feted 1986 squad that dumped out Spain at that stage.
With such a high level of quality on both sides, there will be flashes of brilliance and beautiful football to enjoy.
