Mikel Merino emerged as Spain’s hero yet again as the substitute scored in the 88th minute to stun Belgium and book his side’s place in the World Cup semi-finals. Having come off the bench to score a 91st-minute winner against Portugal in the last 16, the Arsenal midfielder stepped up with another late strike to decide a closely contested quarter-final tie in Los Angeles.
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Mikel Merino came off the bench to score an injury-time winner for Spain as they knocked Portugal – and Cristiano Ronaldo – out of the World Cup in a heavyweight last-16 tie in Dallas. Spain had failed to create clear-cut openings in a poor second half before Ferran Torres played in the Arsenal midfielder, who slotted low past goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 91st minute.
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Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain proved too strong for Austria in a 3-0 win at the SoFi Stadium to take their place in the last-16 of the World Cup. After seeing a goal from full-back Marc Cucurella ruled out for a foul at a corner, the European champions went ahead in the 36th minute through Oyarzabal’s sweeping finish.
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Uruguay are out of the World Cup after another costly error by Fernando Muslera led to defeat by Spain – with head coach Marcelo Bielsa substituting the legendary goalkeeper at half-time. European champions Spain were already practically guaranteed a place in the last 32 before kick-off, but Alex Baena’s strike late in the first half meant they topped Group H and will face the runners-up of Group J.
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Spain got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Atlanta. The European champions arrived in the United States as pre-tournament favourites, but those predictions had come under feverish scrutiny after being held 0-0 by the minnows of Cape Verde. First-night concerns were washed away though as Spain struck three times in the first 24 minutes to take top spot in Group H.
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