Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens was at fault as Belgium suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals, prompting harsh criticism from Belgian media. The 88th-minute error saw Lammens fumble a long-range shot from Spain defender Pau Cubarsi, allowing Arsenal's Mikel Merino to tap in the winner. Belgium had been level at 1-1 after Charles De Ketelaere's header cancelled out Fabian Ruiz's opener for Spain.
Lammens Error Decides Quarter-Final
The match, played in Los Angeles, saw Belgium's first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois substituted in the 71st minute due to injury, visibly emotional as he left the pitch. Lammens, who plays for Manchester United, replaced the Real Madrid star. The game appeared headed for extra time until Cubarsi's speculative effort was spilled by Lammens, and Merino pounced on the rebound. Spain will now face France in the semi-finals.
Le Soir: 'Disgusted' by the Mistake
Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir was exceptionally critical, with their expert headlining a report: 'I'm disgusted that we went home with such a goal.' The full story reads: 'Senne Lammens simply cannot make a mistake like that on the second goal. He has to hold onto that ball every time. It is a massive blunder by the Manchester United goalkeeper, one that sends us packing. I'm gutted to go home because of a goal like that. I would have preferred a 3–0 thrashing. Lammens cost us the match.'
The expert added: 'Without his error, we'd still be in the game, and who knows what might have happened in extra time? At this level, in a World Cup quarter-final, you cannot make a mistake like that. The squad will rally around him, saying, "We win together, we lose together." But there is no excuse for what happened. Even back at Royal Antwerp, I didn't always find him reliable. He was prone to the occasional lapse in concentration. Since moving to Manchester, he's been conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game. If Courtois decides to retire from international football, Lammens is the number one candidate to take over. He's going to have to cut out these kinds of errors.'
Sporza Offers Sympathy Amid Criticism
Online outlet Sporza acknowledged the howler but offered some comfort to the United stopper, stating: 'The dream is over. In the shadow of Hollywood, the Red Devils' World Cup movie ended in tears. Players, family members and fans in LA were inconsolable after that painful 2-1 defeat to Spain, following a blunder by Senne Lammens. Painful for that boy. He will have a long and beautiful career, but I fear that Lammens will carry this with him for a while.'
A second Sporza report stated: '[It was] a moment that would completely tear the Belgian fighting heart apart. A "cold" Lammens completely misjudged a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi. Mikel Merino pushed the rebound in. Poor, poor, poor Lammens, you truly wouldn't wish this on anyone with the eyes of the world fixed on you.'
Impact on Manchester United
The criticism serves as a warning to Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, who has relied on Lammens as his first-choice goalkeeper. Lammens' error in a high-stakes match raises questions about his reliability under pressure. With Courtois potentially retiring from international football, Lammens is seen as the heir apparent for Belgium, but such mistakes could undermine his confidence and standing.
