The moment that ended Belgium’s World Cup arrived two minutes from time at SoFi Stadium, when a speculative strike from Spain’s Pau Cubarsi squirmed through the gloves of substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens and fell for Mikel Merino to slam home a 2-1 winner. The error, as cruel as it was decisive, was the final turn in a quarter-final shaped by the earlier, tearful departure of Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois had been Belgium’s bulwark, repelling Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo with a series of reflex saves after Fabián Ruiz had given Spain the lead. Charles De Ketelaere’s equaliser kept the contest level, but midway through the second half the Real Madrid keeper felt a sharp pain in his left quadriceps while launching a long clearance. He received treatment during a hydration break and, by his own account, wanted to continue. “I could still make saves, I just couldn’t kick long,” he told reporters afterwards. Coach Rudi Garcia, however, insisted on a fully fit player and replaced him in the 71st minute. Courtois left the pitch in tears, an image that dominated coverage from Buenos Aires to Brussels and immediately fuelled debate over whether the substitution was premature.

Lammens, a 24-year-old at Manchester United, entered cold and was tested almost at once. With the match drifting towards extra time, Cubarsi’s low drive bounced just in front of him; he failed to smother it, and Merino pounced. In the aftermath, Courtois wrapped his arms around his understudy. “I gave him a big hug. He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this,” he said, a gesture of solidarity that Asian media outlets highlighted as the defining image of Belgium’s exit. Defender Brandon Mechele also refused to single out Lammens, pointing to the awkward bounce and the defenders’ failure to follow up.

Belgium had arrived at the quarter-final already depleted: captain Youri Tielemans was ruled out after injuring a hamstring in the warm-up, and midfielder Amadou Onana had been lost to an ACL tear in the previous round. Courtois later revealed that he intends to take a year away from international football to allow younger goalkeepers to develop, though he signalled he would return for the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign “if the federation accepts it”.

Spain will now face France in a semi-final in Dallas on 14 July, a rematch of the Euro 2024 last-four encounter. For Belgium, a campaign that had gathered momentum ends not with a tactical defeat but with a single, haunting spill that will be replayed for years.