Spain 2-1 Belgium: Lammens Error Seals Painful Exit for Red Devils

Belgium's celebrated "golden generation" bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in heartbreaking fashion after Mikel Merino's late winner secured a 2-1 victory for Spain in the quarter-finals.

With extra time looming, Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a powerful effort in the 88th minute, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound and fire Spain into the semi-finals.

The defeat is expected to mark the final World Cup appearance for Belgium's remaining senior stars, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel and Thibaut Courtois, who have formed the backbone of the national team for more than a decade.

Courtois was forced off injured midway through the second half, leaving Lammens to deputise under immense pressure. The young goalkeeper's costly mistake ultimately proved decisive.

Belgium's golden generation emerged on the global stage at the 2014 World Cup before reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil and finishing third at the 2018 tournament in Russia the country's best-ever World Cup finish.

The same core of players also reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 but failed to convert their immense talent into major silverware, prompting persistent debate over whether the team fulfilled its potential.

Despite criticism, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia defended his experienced players after the defeat.

"I'm disappointed for those who may not come back with the national team," Garcia said.

"I wanted to take this team as far as possible so the veteran players could have one last hurrah. It's a shame because I believe they deserved to go further."

Football analyst Guillem Balague argued that expectations surrounding Belgium's so-called golden generation had often been unrealistic.

"They were third in the last World Cup and that seems to have been forgotten," he said.

"In the context of the teams they competed against, demanding Belgium to win a major tournament may have been asking too much."

While one era appears to have ended, Belgium's emerging generation offered reasons for optimism throughout the tournament.

Forward Charles De Ketelaere finished as Belgium's joint-leading scorer with three goals, while captain Youri Tielemans produced important performances during the campaign before the team's exit.

Jeremy Doku and other younger players are also expected to form the foundation of Belgium's next cycle.

Before the tournament, Courtois had described the current squad as the beginning of "a new era."

"There are still players from the golden era, but now we have another generation of younger players who want to write their own history for Belgium," he said.

Garcia believes the painful defeat will ultimately benefit those younger players.

"We learn through defeat," he said.

"Our young players will learn from this experience. We pushed Spain all the way, but too many things went against us. Unfortunately, football can be decided by the smallest moments."

Spain will now turn their attention to the semi-finals, while Belgium begin the transition toward a new generation following the end of one of the most successful periods in the country's football history.