Mikel Merino's late-lunge heroics have catapulted Spain into uncharted territory at the World Cup – the semi-finals. The 27-year-old midfielder has become an unlikely talisman, conjuring up dramatic interventions from the bench to break a long-standing curse for La Roja. With two consecutive knockout-round winners in Portugal and Belgium, Merino's impact has been nothing short of seismic.
His match-winning strikes have come in the 119th minute against Portugal and the 88th against Belgium – both games having reached a stalemate until Merino intervened to change the course of history. The significance of these moments cannot be overstated, especially considering that all three of his major tournament goals for Spain as a substitute have proven to be match-winners. His celebrations, complete with a lap of honour around the corner flag, are a testament to his father Ángel, who scored a late winner for Osasuna 35 years ago – a gesture that has become an ingrained part of Merino's triumphant routine.
Coach Luis de la Fuente's faith in Merino is unwavering, and it's clear why. The player's versatility is a gift to the team, capable of adapting seamlessly from deep-lying playmaker to attacking midfielder, as De la Fuente himself acknowledged: "Mikel is super-complete, very versatile... he does all those things so well." This remarkable ability has been on full display despite his recent injury woes, which have limited him to less than half an hour of playing time since February. Yet Merino remains the go-to man when La Roja need a game-changer – and what a game-changer he is.
Spain's semi-final appearance represents a monumental step forward for the national team, who had reached this stage only once before in 2010 – when they went on to lift the trophy. Merino's heroics have not only propelled them towards a second World Cup semi-final but have also ended a long drought of knockout-stage victories.
De la Fuente's composed approach has been a hallmark of Spain's campaign, and his team's performances against Belgium epitomised this calm, measured pursuit of victory. Despite dominating possession (68%) and outshooting their opponents three to one, La Roja remained level until Merino's late intervention – a testament to the squad's newfound maturity and clarity.