Merino strikes again, sending France home from World Cup

Mikel Merino, the hero of Spain's victory, admitted he can hardly believe he scored the winning goal in two consecutive knockout matches at the 2026 World Cup. The Arsenal player's 88th-minute goal secured Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals, booking their place in the semifinals against France.

This follows Merino's crucial injury-time goal that led Spain to a 1-0 win against Portugal in the Round of 16. "I never imagined something like this, not even in my wildest dreams. Scoring at the end of a match is hard to believe," Merino stated. "I thought I would have to wait a long time to repeat a moment like that, but it happened in the very next game."

Merino's decisive goal came after Belgium's substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to cleanly control a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi. The rebound was quickly seized by the 29-year-old Merino. He explained his success is not just luck but stems from his readiness to make an impact whenever called upon. "I always take the field with high spirits and confidence that I can help the team wherever needed. That's what I do," he said.

Reflecting on Spain's journey to the semifinals, Merino acknowledged the current campaign is significantly more challenging than their Euro 2024 triumph. "Today we really had to work hard. Every match is getting tougher, but we are overcoming it," he noted. Spain now faces France, considered a top contender for the World Cup trophy. Merino, however, believes "La Roja" has the capability to upset their opponents once again. "It will surely be a tough fight, as that is the nature of a semifinal match. Both teams are at their best. We will take the field with high spirits and give everything to secure a place in the final," he concluded.