California [US], July 11 (ANI): Belgium suffered a significant setback within the second half of its FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal in opposition to Spain on Friday (native time), after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was pressured off with an harm, in response to news outlet USA Today.
With the match degree at 1-1, Courtois went down clutching his left thigh halfway by way of the second half. Belgium’s medical workers handled the Real Madrid goalkeeper on the sector, and though he briefly returned to play following the hydration break, he quickly indicated that he couldn’t proceed.
Senne Lammens changed Courtois within the 71st minute. The veteran goalkeeper appeared visibly emotional on the bench, elevating issues that his World Cup marketing campaign could possibly be over no matter Belgium’s outcome in opposition to Spain.
Earlier within the match, Belgium introduced an finish to Spain’s record-breaking defensive run on the FIFA World Cup after Charles De Ketelaere scored to snap the longest clean-sheet streak within the event’s historical past.
De Ketelaere discovered the online within the forty first minute to degree the rating at 1-1 after Fabian Ruiz had given Spain the lead within the thirtieth minute of the quarterfinal conflict, in response to OptaJean X deal with.
The objective ended Spain’s exceptional run of 649 consecutive minutes with out conceding within the FIFA World Cup, the longest such streak within the event’s historical past
Spain’s defensive report had stretched from their ultimate group-stage match in opposition to Japan on the 2022 FIFA World Cup by way of their unbeaten run within the 2026 version earlier than De Ketelaere lastly breached their defence, in response to OptaJean X deal with
Belgium’s equaliser not solely introduced the match again on degree phrases but in addition introduced an finish to probably the most exceptional defensive data in World Cup historical past. (ANI)