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Merino strikes late as Spain beat Belgium to set up France World Cup semi
Los Angeles, United States: Super sub Mikel Merino broke Belgian hearts and sent Spain through to a World Cup semi-final against France with a late goal in a gripping 2-1 win on Friday.
The stunning finish at SoFi Stadium sets up a tantalizing showdown between European champions Spain and the tournament favorites France and the red-hot Kylian Mbappe in Dallas on Tuesday. sport-tr.bet
But it was heartbreak for Belgium's substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, sent on late, who spilled a shot into the path of Merino.
The dramatic finale came after Fabian Ruiz had opened the scoring for Spain, before Charles De Ketelaere grabbed one back for Belgium against the run of play before halftime.
Welcoming Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku back to the starting XI, Belgium were rocked by a hamstring injury during the warm-ups to captain Youri Tielemans that hit them hard.
Having already lost Amadou Onana to a ruptured ACL, the Red Devils would have to play a near second-choice midfield against the Spanish possession masters.
Ruiz, brought in for Pedri, wasted no time combining with Rodri to dominate the ball and Barcelona's teen sensation Lamine Yamal curled an early shot just wide of the far post.
But opposing winger Doku was bright for Belgium, cutting in from the left to feed De Ketelaere, the striker fresh from his brace against the United States on Monday.
Still, it was Spain who struck first. On the half-hour mark, Pedro Porro played a sharp one-two with Lamine Yamal before expertly cutting it back from near the byline to Dani Olmo.
Olmo's shot was parried by Thibaut Courtois, but fell to Ruiz, who fired it home.
Suddenly it was all Spain. They pinged passes around the Belgian half as though this World Cup quarter-final was a training exercise, laid on for an A-list crowd featuring Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Noel Gallagher.
But Belgium, having fought back astonishingly late from 2-0 down in the round-of-32 to dispatch Senegal, did not panic.
They grabbed one back in the 41st minute. De Bruyne slid a through ball wide to Timothy Castagne. His cross found De Ketelaere, who perfectly timed his run and outmuscled Barcelona youngster Pau Cubarsi to head home.
It was the first goal Spain had conceded this World Cup.
Improbably, Belgium almost grabbed another before half-time. Breaking from a Spain corner, De Ketelaere's pass to a totally clear Doku was barely intercepted by Olmo.
Yamal grew into the game after the break, nearly finding Mikel Oyarzabal with an incisive cross that was well blocked by a charging Courtois.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia brought on veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, who had scored from the bench in three straight games.
The game opened up. A Belgian cross hit Rodri's arm but the impact was deemed accidental. Oyarzabal had a shot saved from a close, tight angle.
A tearful Courtois was forced off by injury after 70 minutes. He was replaced by Lammens, the 24-year-old Manchester United 'keeper making his World Cup debut in daunting circumstances.
It turned out to be a nightmare.
In the 88th minute, Cubarsi shot low from range, and Lammens should have held onto the ball. Instead substitute Mikel Merino was first to the rebound, smashing it home.
It was the Arsenal midfielder's second straight late winner from the bench, after he scored the crucial goal against Portugal in stoppage time on Monday.
Late on Alexis Saelemaekers rounded Unai, but was unable to find Lukaku in front of an open goal.
As the whistle blow, Courtois came out to embrace a distraught Lammens, while other members of Belgium's ageing "Golden Generation" stood immobile and disbelieving.
For Spain there were embraces and fist pumps, before attention quickly turns to their blockbuster clash with France.
«الرياضة للجميع» يعلم الأطفال أساسيات السباحة
يشهد برنامج «السباحة للجميع» الصيفي المخصص للأطفال من سن 7 إلى 12 عاماً، والذي انطلق بالنادي العربي إقبالاً كبيرا، ومشاركة مميزة ودعما أسريا كبيرا، يبدو واضحا من خلال حرص أولياء الأمور، على تشجيع أبنائهم على تعلم السباحة، واكتساب مهارات جديدة، واستثمار العطلة الصيفية في ممارسة النشاط الرياضي والبدني.
وتقام تدريبات تعلم السباحة، ضمن روزنامة “صيف الرياضة للجميع 2026″، الذي ينظمه الاتحاد القطري للرياضة للجميع، تحت مظلة وزارة الرياضة والشباب، بالتعاون مع العديد من الوزارات والهيئات والمؤسسات، ويهدف برنامج تعلم السباحة على وجه الخصوص، إلى تنمية قدرات النشء، وإكسابهم المهارات الأساسية في السباحة، من خلال توفير بيئة تدريبية آمنة ومحفزة، تعزز أنماط الحياة الصحية في المجتمع. وتستمر الحصص التدريبية في النادي العربي، تحت إشراف مدربين متخصصين، وتقام تدريبات الأولاد من الأحد إلى الأربعاء،
وأكد عبد الله الدوسري، المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد القطري للرياضة للجميع، أن برنامج السباحة الصيفي، سيشمل مسبح نادي الوكرة الرياضي أيضا، اعتباراً من اليوم الأحد، الموافق للخامس من يوليو، في إطار خطة الاتحاد لإتاحة الفرصة أمام أكبر عدد ممكن من الأطفال، للاستفادة من البرنامج، وسوف تقام التدريبات على مسبح نادي الوكرة، من الأحد إلى الأربعاء، لمدة ساعة،
"قوة دفاع البحرين" تعلن التصدي لعدد من الاعتداءات الجوية الإيرانية
أعلنت القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين، تصدي منظومات الدفاع الجوي وتدمير عدد من الاعتداءات الجوية الإيرانية صباح اليوم.
وذكرت /قوة دفاع البحرين/ في بيان لها اليوم، أن إيران تواصل نهجها العدائي الممنهج عبر اعتداءاتها الآثمة بالصواريخ والطائرات المسيرة التي تستهدف المدنيين في مملكة البحرين.
وأهابت بالجميع ضرورة توخي الحذر، وعدم الاقتراب من أو لمس أي أجسام غريبة أو مشبوهة ناتجة عن مخلفات الاعتداء الإيراني الغاشم، والإبلاغ عنها فورا.
كما أكدت أن كافة أسلحتها ووحداتها في أعلى درجات الجاهزية وعلى أهبة الاستعداد الدفاعي لحماية البحرين، وأنها بكامل الجاهزية للتعامل الفني الآمن مع تلك الأجسام، ضماناً للسلامة العامة للمواطنين والمقيمين كافة.
وشددت القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين، على أن تعمد استخدام الصواريخ والطائرات المسيرة في استهداف المدنيين والممتلكات الخاصة، يعد انتهاكاً صارخاً للقانون الدولي الإنساني.
Qatar launches 2026 summer youth program with 550 activities nationwide
Doha: Qatar's Ministry of Sports and Youth has launched its 2026 Summer Plan for youth centers and organizations, featuring a nationwide program of 550 activities designed to engage young people during the school holidays.
The initiative, announced on Friday, includes events organized by youth centers across the country in partnership with a number of national institutions.
According to the ministry, the program includes 142 activities focused on civic participation, 125 centered on education, research and innovation, and 118 promoting youth health. Additional events will cover areas including environmental awareness, entrepreneurship, technology and social issues.
In a statement, the ministry said the plan aims to strengthen national identity, promote Qatari values, and encourage citizenship and social responsibility, while providing a safe and interactive learning environment for participants of different age groups.
The ministry also encouraged young people and parents to follow announcements from youth centers and take advantage of the wide range of activities available throughout the summer.
Director of the Department of Youth Centers and Organizations, Fawaz Al Mesaifri said the program reflected the ministry's continued commitment to empowering young people by helping them develop their skills in an integrated educational environment.
" The ministry believes young people are the cornerstone of development," he said. "Each year, the ministry seeks to offer innovative programs that combine knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship, making the summer plan a genuine investment in the potential of our youth."
Head of Programs for Youth Centers and Organizations, Fatima Al Marwani said the plan had been developed in close cooperation with youth organizations to deliver a balanced program combining education and recreation.
Meanwhile, Head of Youth Centers and Organizations Affairs, Faisal Al Ibrahim, said all participating centers were fully prepared to welcome attendees, with administrative and logistical arrangements in place to ensure a high-quality experience.
The summer plan is built around seven main themes, including education and innovation, employment and entrepreneurship, social issues, civic participation, youth health, digital media and information technology, alongside specialized programs tailored to young people's interests.
Activities include training workshops, youth camps, competitions, and sporting, cultural and volunteering events aimed at helping participants develop new skills, gain practical experience and strengthen teamwork.
The initiative forms part of the ministry's broader efforts to support youth development in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and its strategy to foster innovation, creativity and active participation in national development.