Spain advanced to the quarterfinals after maintaining clean sheets across five matches and registering a total of nine goals. In contrast, the belgians experienced a mixed group stage, securing one victory and two draws. Their recent tournament form included a 3:2 win against Senegal in the 16th round and a 4:1 victory over the United States in the 8th round.
However, the belgians faced setbacks before the quarterfinals, notably the withdrawal of goalkeeper Amadou Onanahi due to a significant knee injury. Historically, the matchup between the two nations has been competitive. The belgians previously defeated Spain during the 1986 World Cup, a match that was ultimately decided by an 11-meter penalty shootout.
More recently, in the 1990 group stage, Spain managed to win the fixture with a 2:1 scoreline. Despite these differing recent trajectories, both teams have a history of facing off. The current statistics show Spain’s consistent defensive performance leading to their quarterfinal berth.
The goal tally and clean sheet record highlight Spain’s disciplined run, while the belgians’ journey has been marked by intermittent success punctuated by injury concerns.
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