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ATLANTA, July 11 : Belgium coach Rudi Garcia came under a barrage of fire for replacing first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final loss to Spain, adding to questions about his future.
ATLANTA: Belgium coach Rudi Garcia came under a barrage of fire for replacing first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final loss to Spain, adding to questions about his future. Courtois felt he could continue despite a twinge in his leg, but Garcia insisted he come off as he was not 100 percent fit. Senne Lammens went on as his replacement after 71 minutes but spilt a low strike by Pau Cubarsi, allowing Spain substitute Mikel Merino to pounce in the 86th minute and secure a 2-1 victory on Friday. Garcia’s insistence on taking off Courtois attracted the ire of Belgian analysts, like commentator Peter Vandenbempt. “You substitute the best goalkeeper in the world during a World Cup quarter-final because he can no longer kick long balls...
INGLEWOOD: Mikel Merino came off the bench again to save Spain, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute to defeat Belgium 2-1 in a World Cup quarterfinal on Friday (Jul 10).
INGLEWOOD, California, July 10 : Tears streamed down Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' face as he sat on the bench with a leg injury during the second half of Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Spain.
INGLEWOOD, California, July 10 : Super-sub Mikel Merino snatched another late winner for Spain on Friday after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold onto the ball as they claimed a 2-1 win over their injury-hit opponents and set up a World Cup semi-final clash with France.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was substituted due to an injury during the World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium.
INGLEWOOD, California: Spain substitute Mikel Merino fired home from close range in the 88th minute to snatch a 2-1 win for his side over injury-hit Belgium on Friday and set up a semifinal clash with France. After the teams went in level at 1-1 following the first half, Spain found the winner when Belgium’s back-up goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who came on in the second period for the injured Thibaut Courtois, failed to hold Pau Cubarsi’s low strike. The ball bounced in front of the keeper, giving Merino just enough time to fire home as the sold-out crowd largely backing Spain erupted on a sweltering day at Los Angeles Stadium. The only other time Spain have reached the semifinals at the World Cup was in 2010, when they won the tournament. They came fourth in 1950 when the final round was a group stage.
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday in Inglewood, Calif.