Thibaut Courtois was overcome with emotion as he was forced to leave the field due to an injury during Belgium's World Cup quarter-final match against Spain. The injury occurred to his left thigh, prompting concern from his team and coaching staff. Courtois was making his 116th appearance for Belgium, highlighting his experience and importance to the team. His departure from the game was a significant blow to Belgium's chances of advancing.
Following Courtois' departure, Belgium's backup goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, made a crucial error in the 88th minute that led to Spain's winning goal. Lammens failed to secure a shot from Pau Curbasi, allowing the ball to fall to Mikel Merino, who capitalized on the mistake and scored from close range. This goal sealed the victory for Spain, eliminating Belgium from the tournament.
The match had begun with Spain taking the lead through a goal from Fabian Ruiz in the 30th minute. However, Belgium responded quickly, with Charles De Ketelaere equalizing just 11 minutes later with a well-placed header. The score remained tied until the late mistake by Lammens, which ultimately decided the outcome of the game.
With this win, Spain advances to the World Cup semi-final, where they will face France on July 14. The loss marks the end of Belgium's World Cup campaign, and the team will now look to regroup and rebuild for future competitions. The emotional toll of the loss was evident, with Belgium's head coach offering words of comfort to the injured Courtois.
