Mikel Merino has become Spain's go-to super-sub, scoring late winners in consecutive knockout matches at the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder came off the bench to score the decisive goal against Belgium in the quarter-final, just one minute and 56 seconds after entering the pitch, securing Spain's first World Cup semi-final appearance since they won the tournament in 2010.
Merino's Clutch Performances
Merino's goal against Belgium was his third as a substitute at major tournaments for Spain, all of which were winners. He scored in the 119th minute against Germany at Euro 2024, the 90+1 minute against Portugal in the round of 16, and the 88th minute against Belgium. Each time, he celebrated by circling the corner flag, a tribute to his father Ángel, who did the same after scoring for Osasuna in Stuttgart 35 years ago.
“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,” Merino said. “Since they weren’t there in the round of 16 I had to repeat it so they could live it in person.”
Coach's Confidence in Merino
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed his calmness when seeing Merino on the pitch. “I look behind me and I see Mikel Merino and I think: ‘I’m calm as can be,’” De la Fuente said. He highlighted Merino's versatility and understanding of the game. “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. 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.”
De la Fuente waited for Merino through an injury that limited him to less than 30 minutes of playing time since February, underscoring the faith he has in the midfielder.
Breaking the Quarter-Final Barrier
Spain had not won a knockout game at a World Cup since their 2010 triumph, having been eliminated in the quarter-finals in 1986, 1994, and 2002. The victory over Belgium broke that barrier for only the second time in the nation's history. Spain dominated possession with 68% and had three times as many shots as Belgium, but the match remained 1-1 until Merino's intervention.
De la Fuente's tactical decisions proved crucial. Replacing Pedro with Fabián Ruiz paid off when the PSG midfielder scored the opener, and substituting Dani Olmo for Merino raised eyebrows until Merino scored the winner. “It’s easy a posteriori, but his decisions are taken a priori,” De la Fuente reminded, emphasizing his analysis and knowledge of his players.
Looking Ahead to France
Spain now face France in the semi-finals, a team they are not afraid of. “We’re not afraid of France,” Lamine Yamal said. De la Fuente added, “It’s legitimate to think we can beat France; they’ll be as worried as we are.” The coach's calm demeanor has been a hallmark of Spain's campaign, drawing on philosophy from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations and a deep faith in his squad.
“I look at our players and feel calm,” De la Fuente said. “They appreciate that calm, too. If they saw me out of it, beside myself, histrionic, saying wild things, this team wouldn’t respond well to that. This is a team that has heart, the stimuli it responds to are understanding, affection and commitment. That’s what moves us.”
