Merino’s Dramatic Impact Continues as Spain Break Through Quarter-Final Barrier
Spain s Mikel Merino enjoys happy – When the final whistle blew following Spain’s quarter-final victory over Belgium, head coach Luis de la Fuente found himself overcome with emotion. “I look behind me and I see Mikel Merino and I think: ‘I’m calm as can be,'” the manager remarked, his composure finally restored after what felt like an eternity. While De la Fuente had managed to steady his nerves, everyone else’s pulse remained elevated during those crucial closing moments of the match.
The Spanish coach’s reaction was particularly telling given the historical weight of this stage for his team. Standing before the quarter-final encounter, De la Fuente experienced a moment of unexpected levity, recalling how his childhood family gatherings centered around just three television programs: the national football team, Eurovision, and the wonderfully eccentric Spanish game show Un, dos, tres. The British adaptation of that program was known as 3-2-1. Throughout his life, De la Fuente had witnessed Spain stumble at this precise juncture on multiple occasions—eliminated in 1986, 1994, and 2002. Yet here he stood, no longer the anxious observer but the participant, laughing uncontrollably at the irony of his situation.
A Match Defined by Composure
The encounter with Belgium tested Spain’s resolve, but this time the team responded with characteristic poise. Despite controlling 68% of possession and registering three times as many shots as their opponents, the score remained deadlocked at 1-1 as the clock ticked down. Several nervous moments threatened to undo Spain’s progress, moments that in previous tournaments would have triggered a wave of fatalism among the players. Instead, Spain pursued victory with purpose rather than panic, avoiding the desperate tactic of simply launching crosses into the penalty area.
Merino’s presence on the pitch provided an additional layer of confidence. The midfielder has now netted three crucial goals for Spain at major competitions—one during Euro 2024 and two at the current World Cup. Remarkably, every single one arrived as a substitute and every one proved decisive, sending Spain through to the next round. The timing of these interventions has been nothing short of theatrical: goals in the 119th, 90+1, and 88th minutes respectively.
A Family Tradition of Victory
Each of Merino’s match-winning strikes has been celebrated identically—the midfielder circling the corner flag in tribute to his father, Ángel, who performed the same gesture after scoring for Osasuna at Stuttgart three and a half decades ago. During Euro 2024, Merino headed home the decisive goal against Germany in that very same Stuttgart stadium where his father had found the net, propelling Spain into the semi-finals. Now, across Dallas and Los Angeles, he replicated that achievement twice within four days.
Ángel Merino traveled to Dallas to witness his son’s latest triumph, sporting novelty socks featuring an image of his father’s historic Stuttgart header. Meanwhile, Mikel’s two-month-old son Marco, whom the midfielder has barely had the opportunity to meet, was absent from the celebrations, prompting Merino to repeat his corner flag ritual once more.
The impact of Merino’s appearances has been substantial despite limited playing time. Against Belgium, he spent merely one minute and 56 seconds on the pitch. His total involvement across two matches amounted to just five minutes plus stoppage time against Portugal and four minutes against Belgium. Yet these brief spells proved sufficient to guide Spain into the quarter-finals and subsequently the semi-finals—a milestone the nation had achieved only once before, during their 2010 World Cup triumph.
Tactical Brilliance and Emotional Connection
Reflecting on his achievements, Merino expressed hope that modern technology would help him share these moments with his young son. “I don’t know how I’ll explain it to [my son]: luckily there’s YouTube and internet and I’ll be able to show it to him because it will be hard to do with words,” he stated. “Since they weren’t there in the round of 16 I had to repeat it so they could live it in person. I’m very happy they are here because they are my strength and I am sure that part of the luck I have had in the ball falling to me is because of the good energy they have given me.”
De la Fuente’s decision to keep Merino in the squad despite an injury that limited him to less than thirty minutes of play since February proved prescient. The coach praised Merino’s versatility and understanding: “Mikel is super complete, very versatile. He’s played as a 6, an 8, a 10 and a 9, and he does all of those things so well,” De la Fuente explained. “He can be the best striker, the best second striker, the best midfielder. Why? Because he has exceptional understanding, a feeling for what the team needs and a calmness. He has commitment, solidarity.”
The coach’s track record of making decisive substitutions has been another factor in Spain’s success. Replacing Pedro with Fabián Ruiz represented a significant gamble, one that paid dividends when the PSG midfielder scored the opening goal just half an hour into the match. Similarly, removing Dani Olmo—arguably Spain’s finest performer against Portugal—demonstrated De la Fuente’s willingness to trust his instincts during critical moments.
While such dramatic finishes may not occur in every match, the combination of Merino’s clutch performances and De la Fuente’s tactical acumen has positioned Spain favorably for what lies ahead. The players understand their responsibilities, and the coach has once again demonstrated his ability to make the right calls when it matters most.
