Spain's Hero: You Never Get Used to Such Joyful Moments

Spain's midfielder Mikel Merino couldn't hide his delight after scoring the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Portugal, a result that propelled the European champions into their first World Cup quarter-final since 2010. He came on as a substitute and netted the decisive goal in stoppage time.

"You never get used to such joyful moments – winning such a wonderful match and making people happy in their homes. Life is full of ups and downs, good and bad times. When I was told about my recent injury, I thought I wouldn't play in the World Cup... and here I am now. When I came on, Luis de la Fuente told me I was coming in as a 'number ten'. I know what he wants from me. Fortunately, I was able to contribute something, and with a goal at that," Merino commented after the win.

The Arsenal midfielder hails from Pamplona, where the iconic local festival 'San Fermín', famous for its bull runs, kicked off on Monday. "Let people enjoy the festival. That's the pleasant side of life: celebrating together with your loved ones. Let them celebrate 'San Fermín' carefully," added Spain's hero.