The tournament ended in heartbreak at the Los Angeles Stadium. Thibaut Courtois watched from the bench, his left thigh bound after an injury forced him off in the second half. His replacement, Senne Lammens, spilled a late strike from Pau Cubarsi in the 88th minute. Mikel Merino capitalize on the error, scoring from close range to send Spain through to the semi-finals.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to post-match statements from the veteran Real Madrid goalkeeper, there is no room for blame. Courtois stood firmly behind his young compatriot despite the heavy toll of the mistake. "It is a shame that Senne just couldn't catch that ball, but that's football," Courtois said. He noted that he, Mike Penders, and Guy Martens immediately comforted the young keeper after the final whistle.
Based on the match progression, Spain had controlled the tempo early on. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for Luis de la Fuente's side before Charles De Ketelaere equalized with a powerful header before the break. The injury to Courtois changed the narrative entirely, leaving Belgium vulnerable in the final minutes of the match.
The defeat likely marks the end of an era for Belgium's golden generation. At 34 years old, Courtois hinted that this could be his final appearance for the Red Devils after earning 115 caps. The future remains uncertain for veterans like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku as well.
Courtois expressed a desire to step back during the upcoming Nations League to contemplate his international future. While Spain advances to face France on Tuesday, Belgium returns home to face a period of transition and rebuilding.