Spain vs Belgium
World football ke do bade heavyweights ek bade stage par aamne-saamne the, jahan tactical battle aur individual brilliance ki umeed thi. July 10, 2026 ko poori duniya ke fans ki nazrein is match par tinki hui thi, kyunki har pass aur har tackle ke saath national expectations ka wazan juda tha.
Spain ka dabdaba aur opening goal
Spain ne match ki shuruaat apne trademark possession style se ki, Belgium ko unke defensive half mein dhakel diya. Rodri aur Álex Baena ke shuruati attempts ko Belgian defense ne block kiya, lekin 30th minute mein deadlock toot hi gaya. Fabián Ruiz ko box ke centre mein jagah mili aur unhone right-footed shot se ball ko goal ke top centre mein daal diya, Thibaut Courtois ke paas koi mauka nahi tha.
Lekin Belgium haar maanne waali team nahi thi. First half khatam hone se theek pehle, unhone ek badhiya team play se equalizer dhoond nikaala. 41st minute mein Timothy Castagne ne ek perfect cross box mein bheja, aur Charles De Ketelaere ne jump lagakar ek jordar header se ball ko net mein daal diya. Dono teams 1-1 ke score ke saath halftime break par gayi, jiske baad second half ka drama baaki tha.
Courtois ki injury aur Merino ka magic
Second half high-level football ka ek shaandaar namuna tha. Match ka bada turning point 71st minute mein aaya jab Thibaut Courtois injury ke karan bahar ho gaye aur unki jagah Senne Lammens aaye. Star goalkeeper ko khone ke baad bhi Belgium khatarnaak bani rahi, khaas karke Kevin De Bruyne ne 62nd minute mein ek shandaar shot maara jise Unai Simón ne bacha liya.
Jab match apne final moments mein tha, tab ek Spanish substitute ne poori limelight chura li. Mikel Merino ko 86th minute mein मैदान par utara gaya, aur sirf do minute baad unhone Pedri ke pass par ek behtareen goal kar diya. Merino ka close range se mara gaya left-footed shot top left corner mein gaya aur poori stadium jhoom uthi. Halanki aakhri minutes mein Aymeric Laporte aur Axel Witsel ko yellow cards mile, lekin Spain ne 2-1 ki lead barkarar rakhi aur jeet haasil ki.
