Soccer-Belgium's Tielemans misses out in late change, Spain bench Pedri


Jul 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Spain midfielder Pedri (20) controls the ball during a Round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

INGLEWOOD, California, July ⁠10 (Reuters) - Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was ⁠withdrawn from the starting lineup due to ‌a hamstring injury sustained during the warm-up, the Belgium FA said, forcinga late change before Friday's World ​Cup quarter-final against Spain, with ⁠Hans Vanaken replacing ⁠him and Kevin De Bruyne taking the armband.

• ⁠De Bruyne ‌starts and will captain Belgium after Tielemans was withdrawn from the ⁠lineup.

• Vanaken replaces Tielemans in midfield.

• ​Jeremy Doku ‌also comes into Belgium's side, with Dodi ⁠Lukebakio dropping ​to the bench.

• Spain manager Luis de la Fuente made a surprise change by dropping ⁠Pedri to the bench.

• Fabian ​Ruiz replaces Pedri in Spain's midfield alongside Rodri and Dani Olmo.

Lineups:

Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, ⁠Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal

Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Brandon Mechele, Maxim ​De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, ⁠Nathan Ngoy; Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas ​Raskin, Leandro Trossard, Charles ‌De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku

(Reporting by ​Fernando Kallas and Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)

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