Cool heads needed as Spain digest disappointment of Cape Verde draw

Spain's players need to keep calm and find a better version of themselves following their unexpected goalless draw against Cape Verde in their opening World Cup match, according to forward Mikel Merino. The 2010 champions find themselves on the back foot after failing to secure three points against the African island nation in Atlanta.

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As with any game where things don't go the way you’d like, everyone deals with the disappointment in their own way. Some watch the match again; others think about other things. We’ve had to swallow the disappointment of not getting the three points. The important thing is to recover and focus on the next match.

Merino acknowledged that the team is dealing with the disappointment in various ways but emphasized the collective desire to prove themselves in the upcoming games. "The important thing is to recover and focus on the next match," he stated at a press conference on Tuesday. He noted that the team has faced similar situations before, referencing the 2010 World Cup where Spain lost their opening game to Switzerland before ultimately winning the tournament, and a loss to Scotland early in coach Luis de la Fuente's tenure.

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We’ve experienced this kind of noise before and we’re handling it the same way. We remain humble, but we know we’re a good team. We can improve, but we also did things well against Cape Verde. We need to keep a cool head, these are moments when you have to stay calm.

Reflecting on the draw with Cape Verde, Merino indicated that the coaching staff and analysts would pinpoint areas for improvement. "We practice self-criticism even when we win. There's always room for improvement," he said. Despite a mixed record in recent World Cups since their 2010 victory, with only three wins in their last 12 matches, Merino expressed confidence in the team's mental approach.

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The coach and the analysts need to pinpoint the issues and tell us what could have been done better. We practice self-criticism even when we win. There’s always room for improvement.

Spain's next challenge is against Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta, a team that also drew its opening match against Uruguay. Merino concluded by saying, "The guys are itching to make things right," signaling the team's eagerness to rectify their performance and get their World Cup campaign back on track.

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The guys are itching to make things right