#PredictWorldCup🇪🇸vs🇧🇪 The match at the SoFi Stadium on Friday is truly a historic replay. Spain and Belgium face off again in a continuation of the unforgettable 1986 World Cup quarter-final tie, which Belgium won 5-4 on penalties forty years ago.

Spain's journey so far has been truly impressive. Despite a lackluster start to the tournament, they have shown improvement in every game, becoming the first team in history to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive World Cup matches by eliminating Portugal in the round of 16 – a victory that also ended Cristiano Ronaldo's last chance at a World Cup title. Belgium, meanwhile, gained significant confidence after coming back from two goals down to win against Senegal in the round of 32, and then eliminating co-hosts the USA by a large margin in the knockout stage.

On the squad side, there's bad news for Belgium: midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the rest of the tournament due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained in the previous match. There are no injury reports in the Spanish camp. Spain's probable starting eleven includes Simon in goal, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, and Cucurella in defense, Rodri and Pedri in midfield, and Yamal, Olmo, Baena, and Oyarzabal in attack. Eighteen-year-old Lamine Yamal is playing in his first World Cup and is one of the tournament's most eye-catching young players.

Looking at the history between the two teams, the balance is balanced with one win and one loss, following that legendary penalty shootout in 1986, when Spain took revenge with a 2-1 victory in the group stage in 1990. This would be Belgium's third quarter-final in the last four World Cups, while Spain's quarter-final history is not so bright, having only progressed past this stage twice: reaching the final group stage in 1950 and eliminating Paraguay in 2010 to win the championship.

Opta's supercomputer model gives Spain a 59.3% chance of winning in regulation time, while Belgium has an 18.3% chance, with a 22.4% chance of the match going to extra time. The numbers clearly favor Spain, their solid defense and patient, possession-based style of play are highlighted by bookmakers. However, Belgium's memory of that historic 1986 victory and their rising form in the tournament make the possibility of a surprise not entirely ruled out. I don't know much about football, but I think Spain will win. The winning side will advance to the semi-finals, giving Spain the opportunity to reach this stage for the first time since 2010. Who do you think is the favorite? Share your prediction now on Gate.