In a surprising turn at the Euro 2026 tournament, Belgium defeated Spain 2-1 on July 11, 2026, handing La Roja their first loss of the competition. The match, held at a neutral venue, saw Belgium's substitutes play a decisive role, scoring both goals for the Red Devils.
According to verified match reports, Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku each scored after coming off the bench, continuing a trend where Belgian substitutes have contributed four goals in the tournament. Vanaken opened the scoring in the 55th minute, followed by Lukaku's strike in the 78th minute. Spain managed a late consolation goal through Álvaro Morata in the 89th minute, but could not equalize.
This victory revitalizes Belgium's campaign after a mixed start, while Spain, previously unbeaten, now faces increased pressure in the group stage. The result highlights the depth of the Belgian squad, with coach Domenico Tedesco's tactical substitutions proving effective.
