"It's not just Merino, but also everyone else who may not play that much. Everyone is important. But he (Merino) has helped us in the last two games," centre-back Aymeric Laporte told SVT during the match.
Spain's defence, led by goalkeeper Unai Simón, had kept a clean sheet for a record 650 minutes - the longest streak in the World Cup tournament without conceding a goal - before Belgium found a way through in the quarter-finals on Friday night.
Laporte: "Not normal"
In-form Charles De Ketelaer, with two goals in the round of 16 against the USA, got to the ball just before centre-back Pau Cubarsí and headed it in for 1-1.
Just over ten minutes earlier, midfielder Fabián Ruiz had given Spain the lead.
The Spanish defensive streak began at the last World Cup, when they played out a 0-0 draw with Morocco in the round of 16. Spain lost that match on penalties. In this year's World Cup, they had not conceded a goal in the group stage or later in the knockout rounds - until the meeting with Belgium.
The previous record was held by Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who kept five clean sheets in a row during the 1990 World Cup at home.
"It's not normal not to concede any goals in tournaments like this. And the most important thing is that we won and are through," says Aymeric Laporte.
Meets France
In the second half, Belgium suffered a major setback when star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured and replaced by Senne Lammens.
Minutes later, Lammens, who plays for Manchester United, made a serious mistake when he spilled a long-range shot. New substitute Mikel Merino, who was the hero last time out against Portugal, was alert and headed in the winner for 2-1.
"It was a tough match, we ran a lot all over the pitch. Belgium are clearly the most difficult team we have faced so far. But we put in a fantastic performance, the whole team. It is not easy to reach a World Cup semi-final but now we want to move on," says Laporte.
In the semi-final, Spain will face France. The match will be played on Tuesday. In the other semi-final, Norway or England will face Argentina or Switzerland.
