Belgium were closing in on extra time before substitute Mikel Merino struck in the 88th minute to send Spain into their first World Cup semifinal since 2010.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUnfortunately, the stars weren\u2019t aligned for us this evening. We lost our goalkeeper. We lost our captain. We had to change a sub out given to De Bruyne, and that wasn\u2019t part of the game plan at the end of the game,\u201d Garcia said after the defeat as quoted by ESPN.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Spain opened the scoring in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz before Charles De Ketelaere headed Belgium level in the 41st minute, ending La Roja\u2019s run of six consecutive clean sheets at the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Belgium suffered a major setback in the 71st minute when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured. Substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens then failed to hold Pau Cubarsi\u2019s long-range effort in the closing stages, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound and score the winner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the defeat, Garcia praised his players for pushing Spain until the closing minutes and said Belgium had nothing to feel humiliated about.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe could be proud of our World Cup stint, that we learn, we learn through defeat,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cI don\u2019t think that we\u2019ve got anything to feel humiliated about. I think that we were able to really give the Spanish squad a run for their money.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Garcia also felt his players successfully executed the plan to press Spain and put pressure on their key players, but admitted fortune ultimately favoured La Roja.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe went in to press them. We put pressure on the key players, and honestly, the players were up to scratch. They sang from the song sheet that I gave them. They did exactly what they needed to do, but once again, we need Lady Luck to be on our side, and unfortunately, she was smiling at Spain and not Belgium,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asked about his future as Belgium manager, Garcia declined to discuss the subject and instead reflected on the disappointment of veteran players who may have played in their final World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not here to talk about the future. It\u2019s not the right moment. We\u2019re here to talk about the game, the game against Spain. And that\u2019s the only thing that matters tonight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m disappointed for those who maybe won\u2019t come back with the national team, those who were competing in the last global competition. I took a team that I wanted to take as far as possible, my veteran players that maybe are on their way out so that they could have one last hurrah.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not here to talk about the future. It\u2019s not the right moment. We\u2019re here to talk about the game, the game against Spain. And that\u2019s the only thing that matters tonight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, after the win, 2010 winners Spain will clash with two-time champions France in the semi-final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n