The 202X FIFA World Cup enters its knockout final phase this week, with one of the most anticipated quarterfinal matches set to kick off Friday at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium between two European powerhouses on lengthy unbeaten runs: tournament favorite Spain and a Belgian side chasing a legendary final run for its golden generation.
Spain has turned in a near-perfect defensive performance throughout the entire tournament, holding every opponent scoreless en route to the quarterfinals. La Roja’s run of form extends far beyond this summer’s tournament, holding an incredible 36-match unbeaten streak across all competitive fixtures dating back to March 2023, establishing the side as one of the most consistent winners in European men’s football over the past three and a half years.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón has been the anchor of Spain’s historic defensive effort, notching a new World Cup record of 609 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal across the current tournament and the 2022 Qatar edition. That streak includes six straight clean sheets, another tournament benchmark. While Simón has only been required to make six saves across five matches thanks to Spain’s organized defensive shape, orchestrated expertly from midfield by Rodri, the upcoming match against Belgium will mark his toughest test of the tournament to date.
Offensively, Spain has not always found its cutting edge in knockout play. Nine of the side’s total tournament goals came in two dominant lopsided wins against underdogs Saudi Arabia and Austria, with only one late injury-time goal from Mikel Merino securing a 1-0 round of 16 win over Portugal. Still, forward Mikel Oyarzabal notched a brace in Spain’s 3-0 rout of Austria at SoFi Stadium last week, and emphasized that the squad’s tight team unity has been a core strength through uneven offensive performances.
“I think we’ve managed to build a really solid core group,” Oyarzabal said Thursday. “Regardless of whether things go well or badly, or who’s playing, the team responds, and I think that’s crucial. We’ve achieved something very difficult: creating that kind of unity within the national team.”
Standing in Spain’s path to the semifinals is a Belgian side that has finally hit its stride at the right moment, riding an 18-match unbeaten streak across all competitions entering Friday’s match. After a dominant 4-1 blowout of co-host United States in the round of 16 – the Red Devils’ strongest performance of the tournament – the squad is well aware it holds a historic opportunity: this is widely expected to be the final World Cup run for the nation’s beloved golden generation of star players, who have never quite lived up to their lofty potential in major tournament play.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, one of Belgium’s veteran leaders, acknowledged the squad enters the match as clear underdogs against the pre-tournament favorite and reigning European champions. Still, he said the side remains confident it can pull off an upset.
“I think they’re one of the favorites to win it, so obviously we start as the underdog against them,” Courtois said. “But in football, everything is possible, and I believe that we can win, with all respect. But obviously they are the favorite.”
Belgium’s offensive arsenal poses a real threat to Spain’s record clean sheet streak, with playmakers Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, and young forward Charles De Ketelaere – who scored two goals against the U.S. – supporting veteran striker Romelu Lukaku. The side does face a setback, however, after losing midfielder Amadou Onana to a knee injury this week that will force a tactical reshuffle. The adjustment is expected to bring De Bruyne back into the starting lineup, after he was rested for the round of 16 match to preserve his fitness for the quarterfinal. Winger Jérémy Doku has been declared fit after dealing with minor fitness issues, though he has yet to find top form this tournament.
For Spain, winger Nico Williams is expected to be fully fit after being limited by minor issues earlier in the tournament, with the rest of the squad reporting good health ahead of kickoff.
The winner of Friday’s clash will advance to the World Cup semifinal, one win away from a spot in the tournament final.