Belgium's Thibaut Courtois fully confident his team can beat Spain

[p][b]"Everyone on our team realises it's ‌possible. I think we have a strong squad with qualities that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] will have ‌to take into account,”[/b] he told reporters ahead of training ‌on Wednesday.[/p][p][b]“There are surprises in every tournament … the Champions League, the Europa ‌League, the World Cup.[/b][/p][p][b]“There are always surprises, and I think ‌we can be one of them. Eliminating the European champions would obviously be a huge upset. The confidence is there,”[/b] he said after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=xhRXm8PG"]4-1[/a] ‌victory over co-hosts the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a] in Seattle ⁠on Monday.[/p][embed guid="d4ee42f1-7a5f-4c61-9fc3-b41b30416584" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2074312485939679403?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] bumbled through the ‌group phase, eventually topping the standings after beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a] 5-1 in ​their last fixture after being held by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a].[/p][p]They then scraped by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a], coming back from two goals ​down with five minutes left to take the game to extra time and then win 3-2 with a last-gasp penalty.[/p][p][b]"People were a ⁠bit disappointed in us, ​but we’ve set that right. We’re getting better and better,” [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/courtois-thibaut/MVExOq3n/"]Courtois[/a] insisted.[/p][p][b]“Spain is the favourite, of course. They are excellent in possession, and when they lose the ball, they press quickly. That’s where the key ‌lies: knowing how to quickly exploit the space behind their defence."[/b][/p][p]Spain substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a] earned them a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/portugal-WvJrjFVN/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=tbTsReVa"]1-0[/a] last-16 win when he scored against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] in the 91st minute on Monday.[/p][image alt="Portugal-Spain matchup stats" id="1f4ac9e6-0f90-40f6-8bd5-91f1d631796e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7589fc3e-300c-413d-9034-dabba754d6f3" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]“I think the goal against Portugal highlights their strengths," [/b]added Courtois. [b]"We know [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a] is incredibly talented in one-on-one situations; he’s fast, agile, and can beat two players if necessary."[/b][/p][p]Courtois, rated among the best keepers in world football, knows all about the Spanish threat, having played ‌at Atletico Madrid and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a].[/p][p][b]"I've lived in Spain for 11 ​years; that’s a long time, of course. Life runs on ‌a slightly later schedule there, and the weather is better. But ultimately, I remain Belgian.[/b][/p][p][b]“Spain is my second home, though, and I’ll probably keep living there after my career ends.[/b][/p][p][b]“I also have two children who are naturally more Spanish than Belgian, ⁠but at the end of ⁠the day, tomorrow's match is ‌all about Belgium,”[/b] he added.[/p]