ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Spain v Belgium

How many of us thought Belgium would still be an active part of this World Cup come the last eight? writes ALEX CROOK.

Not many when they were 2-0 down to Senegal with four minutes of normal time remaining in their dramatic round of 32 triumph.

They were also second favourites to progress past hosts USA in the last 16 but did that with ease as they trounced Mauricio Pochettino’s men 4-1 to break a nations’ heart and leave a certain interfering president feeling positively peeved.

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Their journey will surely come to an end when they face an impressive Spain side on Friday night.

After all, what was once a Golden Generation has now become an aging generation and a much younger Spanish outfit should simply have too much energy for the Red Devils.

Spain, looking for their second World Cup triumph some 16 years after their first taste of glory, also remain the only team not to concede a single goal.

That record could come under threat against a team who have bagged seven in their two knockout games so far but this is a step up in standard of opposition to what Belgium have faced to this point.

While Spain’s 1-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal looks tense on paper, they had more than enough chances in the first half alone to win by a bigger margin and never looked in danger of a surprise early exit as befell them in 2022 in Qatar.

Under De La Fuente, the European champions of two years ago have gone through in all six major tournament knockout matches they have played and not only do I think they will win the game and I think they’ll win it in 90 minutes.

Having won nine of the last eleven meetings between the pair, I like Spain at -1 on the handicap at 7/4 with starsports.bet.

Mikel Oyarzabal missed a sitter against Portugal, but is having a fine tournament. Oyarzabal is 7/2 to score first with starsports.bet.

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