Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper of the Belgian national football team, affirmed their ability to cause a surprise in the match against Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup and to eliminate 'La Roja' on Friday. The Real Madrid goalkeeper said before Thursday's training session: 'Everyone in our team knows this is possible. I think we have a strong squad with qualities that Spain must take into account. Surprises are present in every tournament: in the Champions League, the Europa League, and the World Cup.' The Belgian added, after the 4-1 win over co-host USA in Seattle on Monday: 'There are always surprises, and I think we can be one of them. Eliminating the European champions would certainly be a resounding surprise. The confidence is there.' Belgium's team stumbled in the group stage, but eventually topped their group after a 5-1 win over New Zealand in the final round following draws against Egypt and Iran. In the next round, they narrowly overcame Senegal, coming back from two goals down with five minutes left to force extra time before winning 3-2 on a last-minute penalty. Courtois continued: 'Many felt disappointed with us, but we corrected the situation. We are improving over time, but Spain is of course the favorite. They are excellent in possession, and when they lose the ball, they press quickly. That's the key: knowing how to quickly exploit the spaces behind their defense.' Substitute Mikel Merino led Spain to a 1-0 win in the round of 16 by scoring against Portugal in the 91st minute on Monday. The goalkeeper affirmed that the goal against Portugal highlights their strengths, noting that Spain's Lamine Yamal is extremely talented in one-on-one situations, fast and agile, and can beat several players if necessary. Courtois, ranked among the best goalkeepers in the world, knows everything about the Spanish threat as he played for Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. He said: 'I lived in Spain for 11 years, which is undoubtedly a long time. Life is more relaxed there and the weather is better, but in the end I am still Belgian.' He continued: 'Spain is my second home, and I will likely continue to live there after my professional career ends. I also have two children who are naturally more inclined to Spanish culture than Belgian, but ultimately tomorrow's match is all about Belgium.'