he added.
“I look behind me and I see Mikel Merino and I think: ‘I’m calm as can be,’” said Luis de la Fuente as the tension subsided. While the coach’s heart rate returned to normal, his players remained composed amidst the high-pressure moments. Merino has become an integral part of that calmness for Spain.
Just before Spain’s quarter-final match against Belgium, De la Fuente reminisced about his childhood, recalling how only three television events could gather his family: Spain’s national team games, the Eurovision Song Contest, and the delightfully absurd game show Un, dos, tres (known as 3-2-1 in the UK).
Having witnessed Spain struggle at this stage in the past—eliminated in 1986, 1994, and 2002—he found himself laughing instead of succumbing to pressure. The next day, however, as Spain confronted that familiar hurdle, he and his players maintained their composure. With 68% possession and significantly more shots than Belgium, Spain found themselves locked in a 1-1 stalemate as time dwindled, leading to moments of anxiety reminiscent of past failures.
Despite the mounting pressure, Spain sought the winning goal without becoming frantic. Their approach was methodical, characterized by a purposeful calm that resonated from the sidelines.
Having Merino on the pitch certainly contributes to that sense of assurance. The midfielder has netted three goals for Spain in major tournaments, all coming from the bench and all pivotal winners that propelled Spain forward: in the 119th, 90+1, and 88th minutes. If one must score, doing so in dramatic fashion is the way to go, showcasing his knack for clutch performances.
Each of Merino’s goals has been celebrated similarly, as he circles the corner flag in tribute to his father, who similarly celebrated his own winning goal for Osasuna 35 years ago in Stuttgart. At Euro 2024, Merino scored the decisive goal against Germany in the same stadium where his father had made his mark, pushing Spain into the semi-finals. In recent matches in Dallas and Los Angeles, he did it once more, achieving this feat twice in just four days. His father, Ángel, witnessed the latest match in Dallas, sporting novelty socks emblazoned with an image of Merino’s header from Stuttgart. However, his two-month-old son, Marco, whom he has scarcely seen, was not there to share in the moment.
Merino had only been on the field for a minute and 56 seconds before making his impact felt. His total playing time added up to just five minutes plus stoppage time against Portugal and four minutes against Belgium, yet it was enough to lead Spain to their quarter-final and now semi-final appearances. This marks only the second time Spain has reached this stage, with their last semi-final appearance leading to their championship victory in 2010. While this may seem routine, it is a significant milestone.
“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 shared. “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, luck is not the sole factor. De la Fuente was resolute in his decision to include Merino, even after an injury limited him to less than 30 minutes of play 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 stated. “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.”
“We’re not afraid of France,”
While outcomes are not guaranteed, the coach’s decision-making has proven effective. Substituting Pedro for Fabián Ruiz was a significant move, which paid off when the PSG midfielder scored the opening goal just half an hour into the match. Removing Dani Olmo, who had been outstanding in the match against Portugal, raised eyebrows, yet Merino’s subsequent goal justified the decision. In Los Angeles, he repeated the feat.
De la Fuente acknowledged that hindsight is 20/20 but emphasized that his choices are made with careful analysis and a deep understanding of his players. “It’s legitimate to think we can beat France; they’ll be as worried as we are.” he remarked.
Drawing inspiration from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, which contrasts sharply with Un, Dos, Tres, De la Fuente has spoken of his faith and confidence in his players. He has displayed a remarkable ease, as if he knows that success is destined.
What has troubled him, however, is the lack of faith from others. He questioned the negativity surrounding the team, especially during the initial weeks when confidence in his squad was not universally shared. In contrast to most managers who shy away from being labeled as favorites, De la Fuente and his team have embraced that pressure from the outset. Why not?
“I look at our players and feel calm,” declared Lamine Yamal. De la Fuente added, “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.” Judging by their performance thus far in the World Cup, France appears unfazed.
“I look at our players and feel calm,” De la Fuente stated. “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.”
If not, there’s always Mikel Merino to rely on. What could possibly go wrong?
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