For the third time in 12 years, the quarter-finals proved to be the stumbling block for this experienced Belgium side at a major international tournament, although for much of this game they seemed to have done enough to force extra time, before suffering heartbreak.

Penders was among the substitutes, with former Blues Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne in the starting line-up, and Romelu Lukaku joining our goalkeeper on the bench.

It was Spain who took the lead through Fabian Ruiz with half-an-hour played, but before the half-time break Charles De Ketelaere headed Belgium level and the game continued at 1-1 deep into the second period.

Both sides threw on attacking substitutions in search of a winning goal, including Lukaku for Belgium. It briefly looked like Penders’ moment had arrived when Courtois was forced off with an injury and the scoreboard showed the Chelsea man’s name. It would have been quite a moment to make his senior international debut, but it was soon shown to be an error as Senne Lammens was the one coming on.

The substitutes proved decisive in the end, but it was Spain’s Mikel Merino who got the goal, converting the rebound at close range in the 88th minute when Lammens was unable to hold Pau Cubarsi’s low shot from range.

There was little time left for Belgium to respond on this occasion, as they suffered a 2-1 loss and exited the World Cup in the last eight. Former Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella and Spain will now take on Malo Gusto’s France in the semi-finals on Tuesday 14 July, with kick-off at 8pm UK time.