Quick hits: Spain's new clutch king and a record clean sheet streak broken

Mikel Merino has emerged as Spain's new "king of the clutch," delivering a critical last-gasp goal against Belgium to secure a spot in the semifinals. This marks the second consecutive match where Merino, coming on as a substitute, has proven to be the hero. His decisive strike came in the 86th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsí's shot. Merino's heroics follow his similar late goal against Portugal in the round of 16, which secured Spain's 1-0 victory. His ability to consistently impact games in the final minutes has been crucial for La Roja, who now face tournament favorites France in the semifinals. "I've done this again, and it's happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists," a smiling Merino commented. "If you're ready and you try, it can happen for you. I'm very, very pleased." Meanwhile, Spain's formidable defense, anchored by goalkeeper Unai Simón, saw its record-breaking streak of 650 minutes without conceding a goal come to an end. Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere broke the streak in the 41st minute of their quarterfinal clash, heading in a cross to equalize the score at 1-1. This marked the first goal conceded by Spain in the tournament, snapping their record of six consecutive clean sheets. Simón's impressive run began in 2022 and surpassed the previous record set by Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga in 1990. The article also briefly touches upon other "quick hits" from the world of football, including a death threat scare involving a Colombian midfielder and a mention of Norway's "Viking Row" celebration.

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I've done this again, and it's happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists. If you're ready and you try, it can happen for you. I'm very, very pleased.