'La Roja' Can't Do Without Merino Anymore

When Olmo is unavailable, and Lamine and Nico are still finding their rhythm after injuries, with Pedri seemingly burdened by a long and grueling season, De La Fuente and Merino step up to make a decisive impact from the bench.

Mikel reminds me of the early days of Championship Manager, when we discovered that England had many players who could excel as both center-backs and strikers. Both roles demanded physical prowess. These monolithic defenders, transformed into forwards, perfectly understood the tricks of their markers and only needed to hit the right goal at the right moment. They could seamlessly transition between positions on the pitch, adapting to needs without requiring a substitution. This was crucial when only two substitutions were allowed. They knew exactly what was expected of them.

Mikel Merino hasn't had an explosive career; in fact, he's currently experiencing his best form. He came through Osasuna's academy and played for their first team, but struggled to establish himself first at Dortmund and then at Newcastle. San Sebastián became his refuge, and it was there, with Real Sociedad's 'txuri-urdin,' that he finally found stability. Arteta saw his potential and brought him to London, where he evolved into this hybrid player who can dominate midfield or appear out of nowhere to strike at goal, often deciding tight matches. And he doesn't mind. Even if he plays less than others, he makes the most of his time on the pitch. In this World Cup, De La Fuente, shrewdly, hasn't tried to mold him. He deploys him precisely to be the same player who primarily comes on during the second halves for Arsenal. He's a man with a mission.

The Portuguese should know him well. They gave him the space he could never have had. The Belgians, on the other hand, experiencing the last chance for their golden generation, capitulated even more dramatically. Courtois opened the door for the 1-0, scored by Fabián Ruiz. Then, he got injured, and Lammens performed even worse. And there he was... Merino!