Can Spain extend their winning streak? Preview of the match against Belgium, July 10
On Friday, July 10, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will host a fierce battle for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals. In this quarter-final showdown, reigning European champions Spain will face the tournament’s most unpredictable powerhouse—Belgium. The matchup is loaded with history: exactly 40 years ago, at the 1986 World Cup, these teams met in the quarter-finals, with Belgium eliminating Spain on penalties. On Californian soil, La Roja will be out for revenge, aiming to settle that old score, while the winner will advance to face the victor of France vs Argentina.
Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain have played this tournament with the poise and composure of true champions. In the round of 16, the Iberians edged out Portugal in a gritty, hard-fought derby (1-0) thanks to a late strike from Mikel Merino. Spain’s greatest asset right now is their phenomenal balance between an electric attack and a rock-solid defense: La Roja have kept three straight clean sheets in the tournament. The midfield triangle of Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo ticks like a Swiss watch, dominating possession and starving opponents of the ball, while the explosive Lamine Yamal on the right flank is ready to tear apart any defender one-on-one.
Belgium, under Rudi Garcia, are riding a wave of adrenaline and drama through the tournament bracket. After a heroic comeback against Senegal, the Red Devils utterly dismantled the tournament hosts, the USA, in Seattle, thrashing them 4-1 in the round of 16. Belgium are now unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions, and their attack is in scorching form, having netted 12 goals in their last three games. Kevin De Bruyne is orchestrating play with genius-level creativity, while Romelu Lukaku is finding the net in every match. Garcia’s main worry, however, is the absence of a key holding midfielder, which could leave Belgium exposed in front of their own penalty area.
This Los Angeles clash promises to be a tactical masterclass. Expect Spain to seize possession from the opening whistle, applying their trademark suffocating positional play and working to isolate De Bruyne. Belgium are likely to embrace the underdog role, banking on the rapid bursts of Jeremy Doku and the power of Lukaku when breaking free from Spain’s pressing. At the quarter-final stage, squad depth and balance could prove decisive.
Line-ups
Spain: Simon – Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella – Rodri, Pedri – Yamal, Olmo, Baena – Oyarzabal
Belgium: Courtois – Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper – Vanaken, Tielemans – Lukebakio, De Bruyne, Trossard – De Ketelaere
Prediction
I expect a tight, cagey affair with just a couple of goals deciding the outcome. My prediction: total under (3) at 1.62
