Thibaut Courtois’ apparent thigh injury became the turning point in Belgium’s 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Spain, with replacement goalkeeper Senne Lammens making the costly error that allowed Mikel Merino to score the late winning goal.
Belgium were level at 1-1 and competing strongly when Courtois was forced off in the second half at Los Angeles Stadium. Until then, the Real Madrid goalkeeper had helped keep Belgium in the contest against a Spain side applying increasing pressure.
Minutes after Courtois left the field, Lammens failed to hold a shot from Pau CubarsĂ. The ball spilled into the six-yard area, where Merino reacted first and forced it home to send Spain into the World Cup semifinals.
How did Thibaut Courtois get injured?
Courtois appeared to suffer the injury while making a save shortly before the second-half hydration break. After going down, he received treatment for what appeared to be discomfort in his left thigh.
The Belgium goalkeeper initially tried to continue. He returned to his position after the break and tested his movement, but it quickly became clear that he could not complete the match.
Courtois then signalled that he needed to come off before sitting down on the field. Belgium’s medical staff entered again, and the 34-year-old was replaced by Lammens in the 71st minute with the score still tied at 1-1.
Courtois looked devastated as he left the pitch and was visibly emotional on the Belgium bench. The precise nature and severity of the injury had not been officially confirmed immediately after the match, so it remained unclear whether he had suffered a strain or a more serious muscle problem.
Why Courtois’ exit changed the match
Replacing a goalkeeper during a knockout match is especially difficult because the substitute has little time to adjust to the speed, movement and pressure of the contest.
Lammens entered during a tense period in which Spain were pushing more players forward in search of a winner. Unlike an outfield substitute, a goalkeeper cannot gradually become involved. His first major action can immediately decide the match.
That is effectively what happened to Belgium.
CubarsĂ attempted a shot from distance that appeared manageable, but Lammens could not secure it cleanly. The goalkeeper spilled the ball in front of goal, and Merino was already moving into the area to attack any rebound.
The Spain substitute reached the loose ball before Belgium’s defenders and prodded it over the line, restoring Spain’s lead late in the match.
Merino again delivers when Spain need a goal
Merino’s winner continued his reputation for scoring decisive goals in major knockout matches.
He had scored Spain’s late winner against Portugal in the previous round and also produced the extra-time goal that eliminated Germany in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente introduced Merino because Belgium were defending deeply and Spain needed another physical presence inside the penalty area. His positioning became crucial when Lammens failed to hold CubarsĂ’s effort.
The goal was not the result of an elaborate passing move. It came from Spain continuing to shoot, attack rebounds and place players close to goal late in the match.
Belgium had recovered after falling behind
Spain took the lead through Fabián Ruiz in the 30th minute after Belgium failed to clear the danger inside the penalty area.
Belgium responded before halftime when Charles De Ketelaere headed Timothy Castagne’s cross beyond Unai Simón. The 41st-minute equaliser was the first goal Spain had conceded during the tournament.
Belgium remained organised after the break and appeared capable of taking the quarterfinal into extra time. Courtois’ injury, however, forced an unplanned substitution at the most sensitive position on the field.
The change did not guarantee that Belgium would lose, and Lammens was not solely responsible for the elimination. Spain still had to create the shot, attack the rebound and defend its lead. However, the timing of Courtois’ departure and the mistake that followed made the injury the defining sequence of the match.
Could this have been Courtois’ final World Cup match?
Courtois’ emotional reaction also raised questions about whether the quarterfinal could have been his final World Cup appearance.
He will be 38 by the time the next men’s World Cup is played in 2030. Although goalkeepers often compete longer than outfield players, his age and injury history make another appearance far from certain.
Courtois previously recovered from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in 2023 and returned to play a major role for Real Madrid. He has also dealt with several muscle and knee problems during recent seasons.
No immediate conclusion can be drawn about his international future, however. Belgium and Real Madrid will first need medical examinations to establish the exact injury and expected recovery period.
Spain advance to face France
Spain’s 2-1 victory secured a place in the World Cup semifinals against France, who defeated Morocco in the other quarterfinal on their side of the bracket.
The semifinal will be a rematch of the Euro 2024 meeting between the teams, which Spain won 2-1 before going on to lift the trophy.
The latest tournament schedule and confirmed knockout fixtures are available through the official FIFA World Cup fixtures page.
For Belgium, the elimination will be remembered through one painful sequence: Courtois suffering an apparent thigh injury, Lammens being sent into the match with little preparation and Merino capitalising on the replacement goalkeeper’s mistake.
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