Mikel Merino has done it again. The Arsenal midfielder scored a late winner against Belgium to send Spain into the World Cup semi-finals, where they will face France for a place in the final. It is only the second time Spain have reached the last four of the tournament — the first was in 2010, when they went on to lift the trophy.
The semi-final also sets up a fascinating individual battle between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, with the young Spaniard yet to make his mark at this World Cup. But the story of Spain’s run has increasingly become the story of Merino, who scored in stoppage time to knock Portugal out in the last 16 before repeating the trick against Belgium.
That Merino is even at this World Cup is remarkable. In January he suffered a stress fracture in his foot — an injury in an area specialists had not previously encountered. It ruled him out for Arsenal and threw his World Cup hopes into serious doubt. He did not return to action for the Gunners until just a month before the tournament began.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente was effusive in his praise after the quarter-final win. “Mikel is incredible,” the manager said. “He has many qualities. He is a player that across the whole World Cup could have played in whatever team and done great. For us he is the standard of this idea, of this model. It is a pleasure to have him.”
Merino himself had feared he would not make it. “The fact of being here a few months ago was unthinkable,” he said after the Portugal win. “Now I am at the highest point, enjoying one of the happiest moments of my career.” Few players embrace the super-sub role willingly, but Merino is proving an invaluable presence in Spain’s push for a second World Cup title.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
