Merino’s decisive impact
Spain have secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals, overcoming Belgium with a 2-1 victory. The decisive goal came from Mikel Merino, who once again proved to be a crucial substitute for the European champions. Merino’s late strike in the 88th minute, following a rebound from a shot by Pau Cubarsi, sealed Spain’s progression to the next stage of the tournament.
This marks the second consecutive match where Merino has made a significant impact from the bench. In the last-16, he scored in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win against Portugal. His consistent ability to influence games after coming on has been vital for Spain’s campaign, particularly given his recent return from an unusual foot injury earlier in the year.
Merino, an Arsenal midfielder, faced a stress fracture in his foot in January, an injury that specialists reportedly had not encountered before. This setback not only sidelined him from Arsenal duties but also cast doubt on his participation in the World Cup. He was only able to return to action for his club a month before the tournament commenced. Despite these challenges, Merino not only earned his spot in the Spain squad but has become an invaluable player in their journey to the semi-finals.
Luis de la Fuente, the Spain boss, praised Merino’s qualities after the quarter-final win, highlighting his understanding of the game and his commitment. De la Fuente stated that Merino embodies the team’s model and is a pleasure to have in the squad, always being reliable. Former England striker Wayne Rooney also commented on Merino’s ability to arrive at the right moment in big games.
The 30-year-old’s heroics are familiar to Arsenal fans, as he has previously been deployed as a striker by manager Mikel Arteta due to his height. He notably scored twice in a 2-0 win against Leicester in February last year, demonstrating his versatility and goal-scoring prowess.
Match details and Belgium’s challenge
The match saw Fabian Ruiz open the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute. This goal came after Thibaut Courtois, Belgium’s long-time goalkeeper, parried a shot from Dani Olmo, which originated from Pedro Porro’s cut-back. However, Belgium responded in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere scored with a header from Timothy Castagne’s cross. This goal marked the first time Spain had conceded in the entire World Cup, ending a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding.
Belgium faced an additional challenge when Courtois left the field in the 71st minute due to an apparent thigh injury, leading to backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens entering the game. It was Lammens who spilled Cubarsi’s shot, allowing Merino to pounce for the winning goal. Despite Belgium’s desperate attempts to find an equaliser in the final minutes, Aymeric Laporte cleared their best opportunity out of the box.
Yamal’s contribution and upcoming challenge
While Merino has been a standout performer, teenage star Lamine Yamal has yet to fully replicate his Euro 2024 form at this World Cup. Despite having played six games and scoring one goal, his overall impact has been different compared to other prominent players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane, who have taken leading roles for their teams.
Yamal’s contribution, however, extends beyond goals and assists. His dribbling ability and pace are instrumental in creating space for teammates. Rooney noted that Yamal’s effectiveness lies in attracting defenders and opening up opportunities for others, especially considering he entered the tournament with an injury. Former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta also emphasized Yamal’s influence on Spain’s game, highlighting his constant movement and desire to make a difference.
Spain’s defence has been strong throughout the tournament, with the goal conceded against Belgium being their first. However, their backline will face a significant test in the semi-finals against a potent France side led by Mbappe. This upcoming fixture, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas, will require Spain’s attacking players, including Yamal, to be at their best to alleviate pressure on their defence and secure a spot in the final.
The victory against Belgium means Spain have reached the last four of the tournament for only the second time in their history, with their previous semi-final appearance in 2010 leading to them lifting the trophy.
Read Also
- Christian Pulisic suffers leg fracture, to miss several weeks after World Cup exit
- Cobham hosts first Chelsea pre-season training under new manager
- Sinner defeats Djokovic in Wimbledon semi-finals, advances to final against Zverev
- Manchester United's Ederson transfer faces uncertainty due to knee injury concerns
Source: bbc.com
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”