Merino Twice Over: Spain Shatters Belgium's 46-Year Hold to Reach the Last Four

A late double from the substitute ended Belgium's historic unbeaten run and set up a semifinal clash with France.

Spain 2, Belgium 1. The number that matters is 88, the minute when Mikel Merino, on as a substitute and already haunting the Belgian defense, rose or drove or willed himself into the kind of moment that separates quarterfinals from semifinals. His second goal of the night, a late winner that broke Belgium, also broke a streak that had lasted nearly half a century.

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