“I look behind me and I see Mikel Merino and I think: ‘I’m calm as can be,’” said Luis de la Fuente, once the tension had eased. While the coach seemed composed, the adrenaline was palpable among the others. In those crucial moments of high stakes, de la Fuente embodies a sense of steadiness, much like the midfielder himself.
Just before Spain’s quarter-final matchup against Belgium, de la Fuente found himself laughing as he reminisced about his childhood. He recalled how, during his youth, only three television events could bring his family together: the national football team, Eurovision, and the delightfully quirky game show Un, dos, tres, which had a British counterpart known as 3-2-1.
Having witnessed Spain struggle to advance past the quarter-finals multiple times—defeated in 1986, 1994, and 2002—he found himself enjoying the moment instead of feeling the weight of that pressure.
As Spain prepared to face that hurdle once more, they exhibited a commanding presence on the field with 68% possession and three times the number of shots compared to Belgium. Yet as the clock ticked down, the score remained tied at 1-1, creating moments of anxiety reminiscent of past disappointments.
But Spain displayed a persistent drive for victory, not resorting to frantic crosses. Instead, they played with a sense of purpose that resonated from the sideline.
Having Merino on the pitch certainly contributed to that clarity. The midfielder has tallied three significant goals for Spain in major tournaments—one at Euro 2024 and two during this World Cup—all scored as a substitute and all in crucial moments: the 119th, 90+1, and 88th minutes. If you’re going to score, why not do it in style? That’s what clutch performance looks like.
Each of his late goals has been marked by a celebration that honors his father, who similarly circled the corner flag after scoring a winner for Osasuna 35 years ago. At Euro 2024, Merino scored the decisive goal against Germany in the same stadium where his father had his moment. Recently, in Dallas and Los Angeles, he repeated the feat twice within four days. His father, Ángel, attended the game in Dallas, proudly wearing novelty socks featuring his son’s header from Stuttgart, while Merino’s infant son, Marco, whom he has scarcely seen, was not present for these memorable moments.
Having played just one minute and 56 seconds on the field, Merino’s contributions were impactful. He logged five minutes plus stoppage time against Portugal and four against Belgium, yet those brief appearances were enough to push Spain past the quarter-finals and into the semi-finals. This marked a significant achievement, as it was only the second time Spain had reached this stage since their victorious run in 2010, breaking a long-standing barrier after a series of knockout disappointments.
“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 expressed. “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.”
However, his success is not solely due to luck. De la Fuente had shown immense faith in Merino, who had been sidelined due to injury and played less than 30 minutes since February. “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 noted. “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.
“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 story won’t always end this way. But you do know you’re closer to it because the players know what they have to do, and they’re very good.”
While it may not always conclude positively, de la Fuente has consistently made sound decisions. His choice to substitute Pedro for Fabián Ruiz proved pivotal when the PSG midfielder scored the opening goal shortly after entering the match. When he replaced Dani Olmo, who had been outstanding against Portugal, many questioned his judgment—until Merino netted the winner.
Post-quarter-final, the coach acknowledged that while it appears easy in hindsight, his strategic decisions are made with careful consideration. They stem from analysis and a deep understanding of his players, approached with a sense of calm.
De la Fuente also referenced a line from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, which he has been reading, contrasting it with the light-hearted Un, Dos, Tres. He has spoken about his beliefs, exuding an aura of confidence as if he knows their success is preordained.
One of his few frustrations has been the lack of faith shown by others outside the team. He questioned the negativity that surrounded the squad during the early stages of the tournament, contrasting it with his team’s readiness to embrace the challenge. “We’re not afraid of France,” declared Lamine Yamal. De la Fuente added, “It’s legitimate to think we can beat France; they’ll be as worried as we are.” So far, the evidence suggests they are not overly concerned.
“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.”
And if all else fails, there’s always Mikel Merino. What could possibly go wrong?
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