LIVE: Vanaken starts, De Bruyne captains Belgium as Tielemans injured

The Rode Duivels face Spain in the World Cup quarter‑final at 21:00, with the match billed as a potential upset against the reigning European champions. The live broadcast will feature Hans Vanaken in the starting eleven and Kevin De Bruyne wearing the captain’s armband. Youri Tielemans has suffered a suspected adductor tear and is ruled out of the game, ending his record kilometre tally at this tournament. The injury forced him to abandon his warm‑up and retreat to the dressing room with a doctor. Hans Vanaken steps into Tielemans’ place on the pitch, while Kevin De Bruyne moves from the bench to the captain’s role, marking his first start as leader of the side. Despite being shown on the SoFI Stadium screen, Tielemans is unlikely to feature, as the medical assessment points to a mandatory withdrawal for the quarter‑final. Spain’s attention centres on teenager Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona, who has scored once in the tournament. In a column for Athletic, Xavi praised Yamal, saying, “Yamal is not the typical player Spain produces. He is a skilful player – we have seen that before, but not a world‑star – and he could become one of the most decisive players in Spain’s history.”

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Axel Brisart reported the stadium’s temperature soaring above 30 °C, noting the heat inside the SoFI Stadium’s roof. Thibaut Courtois will play his 21st World Cup match, overtaking Frenchman Hugo Lloris’s 20 appearances and moving closer to Manuel Neuer’s record of 23. Rudi Garcia has named Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in the starting XI, replacing the injured Amadou Onana and Dodi Lukebakio.

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Spain’s line‑up sees Pedri on the bench, with Fabian Ruiz of PSG taking his place; the starting eleven also includes Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and other regulars. The WK schedule highlights the match listed under the SoFI Stadium screen, with sections Op Speelschema, Stadions, Poules, Uitslagen, Selecties, Pronostiek, and the match labelled Google-favoriet SPANJE ‑ BELGIË. The article also references REUTERS©, REUTERS20:17, Courtois, WK‑wedstrijd, Fransman Hugo Lloris, Manuel Neuer, Thibaut, Axel Brisart, Photo, News©, News20:03, Pedri, Barcelona‑middenvelder, Spanjaarden., Luis Fuente, EK, Rodri‑Ruiz‑Olmo., AP, Photo/Andre Penner19:53, Garcia, Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper, Raskin, Ketelaere, Trossard, BELGALukaku, BELGARudi, Ruiz, PSG, La Roja', Oyarzabal, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Olmo, Baena, Bekijk, Bij Athletic, Als News, Bondscoach Roja, Mikel, Lees.