Spain's formidable unbeaten streak of 35 matches will be tested when they face Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
The Spanish side, remodeled under coach Luis de la Fuente, operates with the cohesion of a club team, having won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship.
Their strength lies in collective depth. At Euro 2024, ten different Spanish players scored, setting a tournament record. This was highlighted in their last match, where substitutes Mikel Merino and Ferran Torres combined for a last-gasp winner against Portugal.
Belgium enters the match riding the momentum of a thunderous 4-1 victory over the United States. That win followed a unique political intervention when a one-match ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was suspended after former President Donald Trump urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case.
However, Belgium must now contend with a significant loss. Midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during the win over the U.S., creating a major gap in their lineup against the disciplined Spanish midfield.