Spain VS Belgium

The two teams meet again in a World Cup knockout match after 40 years. In 1986, Belgium eliminated Spain on penalties, leaving a psychological scar on the Spanish team. Spain, ranked second in the FIFA world rankings, has a total team value of 1.223 billion euros, nearly twice that of Belgium. With an average age of only 24.7 years, they have an edge in terms of physical fitness and squad depth. In this World Cup, they've scored 9 goals in six games without conceding a single one. Unai Simón has been rock - solid in goal. Manager De la Fuente adheres to the 4 - 3 - 3 possession - based system. Rodri controls the tempo of the game as the defensive midfielder. Pedri links up the midfield and the front, while Yamal breaks through the defense on the flanks. There are no major injuries among the main players, and the team boasts an average ball - possession rate of over 64%. Their high - pressing and positional play are of top - notch quality. In the last eight meetings with Belgium, Spain has won seven and drawn one, completely dominating the psychological battle with their opponents. Given these factors, Spain seems to be in a strong position in this crucial match.