Ultimate WC showdown: Striker with 93 international goals vs keeper unbeaten for over 600 minutes

In the first quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup, France beat Morocco 2-0 and advanced to their third consecutive semi-final, becoming the third team in history to achieve the feat after Germany (1982-1990 and 2002-2014) and Brazil (2002-2014).

Tonight, it's time for Belgium and Spain to take centre stage and decide who will face Les Bleus on July 14 in Arlington, Texas.

Mbappe and Dembele too strong for the Atlas Lions

However, the match between the Red Devils and La Roja won't be just a regular clash of two national teams. No, it will be a duel of the fifth-highest international goalscorer of all time and the goalkeeper who has kept a clean sheet for 609 minutes!

On one side, there will be Romelu Lukaku, the man who scored 93 international goals - a tally surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, 146 goals), Lionel Messi (Argentina, 125 goals), Ali Daei (Iran, 108 goals), and Sunil Chhetri (India, 95 goals).

Standing opposite the powerful striker will be the man many doubted - Unai Simon.

The public was genuinely surprised when Luis de la Fuente decided to keep the Athletic Bilbao goalie as Spain's first-choice keeper, despite having a three-time Premier League Golden Glove winner, Arsenal's David Raya, in the squad.

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Still, the experienced tactician's decision proved to be fantastic, as Simon and, of course, La Roja's defence have yet to collapse in the tournament, having kept their net intact against Cabo Verde (0-0), Saudi Arabia (4-0), Uruguay (1-0), Austria (3-0), and Portugal (1-0).

Including Spain's last match at the 2022 World Cup - a goalless draw against Morocco, followed by a defeat on penalties - Simon has gone without allowing a goal for 609 minutes (the longest in the tournament's history), while De la Fuente's side is the only team in the USA, Canada, and Mexico yet to concede.

After two fantastic wins against Senegal and the USA, Belgium's confidence is sky-high. In a 4-1 triumph over the co-hosts, Charles De Ketelaere impressed as the starting striker, scoring twice and providing an assist. Therefore, it's hard to expect that Rudi Garcia will bench him tonight, meaning that Lukaku won't be in the starting XI, just the way he wasn't in three out of five Red Devils' games at the 2026 World Cup.

Still, even with reduced playing time (200 minutes), the 33-year-old scored three goals, proving that he knows how to make every minute count.

Spain's defence and Simon should keep that in mind and remain cautious, because when Lukaku comes off the bench as Belgium's saviour, he rarely fails to deliver.

WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE

Quarter-finals

Thursday

France - Morocco 2-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 60, Dembele 66/

Friday

22.00: (1.65) Spain (4.00) Belgium (5.50)

Sunday

00.00: (4.00) Norway (3.70) England (1.90)

04.00: (1.75) Argentina (3.50) Switzerland (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***