Two knockout matches, two crucial goals – Mikel Merino has become Spain’s unexpected hero at the FIFA World Cup, proving to be a highly effective substitute. In the quarterfinal against Belgium, Merino came off the bench in the 86th minute and scored just two minutes later, securing Spain’s 2-1 victory and propelling them into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2010. This mirrored his game-winning performance in the round of 16 against Portugal.
Merino revealed that Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, kept his instructions simple before sending him onto the field. The midfielder shared, “To be honest, he did not say much. He told me I would come on as a No. 10. Then, after the match, he told me I was incredible. Those were the two things he said to me.”
In both matches against Portugal and Belgium, Merino adopted a similar approach, aiming to maximize his impact on the game. He explained, “I came on trying to do the best I could, trying to position myself in areas where I could hurt the opponents. They were very well organized, but when you get bodies into the box, things can happen.”
Merino’s match-winning goal against Belgium was witnessed by his family, including his two-month-old baby. Reflecting on this memorable World Cup journey, Merino expressed his difficulty in articulating the experience and mentioned relying on technology to share it with his child in the future. He emphasized the importance of his family’s presence, attributing part of his success to the positive energy they provide.
Despite his reputation for scoring late goals in crucial moments, Merino believes that his success stems from thorough preparation rather than mere luck. He acknowledged the significance of his late goals but cautioned against expecting such outcomes consistently. Merino remains focused on being prepared for every opportunity on the field, aiming to contribute positively whenever he plays.
