Spain substitute Mikel Merino expressed his disbelief after scoring a late winner for the second consecutive match, leading La Roja to a 2-1 victory over Belgium. This triumph sets up a World Cup semifinal clash with France.
Merino, who plays for Arsenal, came on in the 86th minute in Los Angeles and needed just two minutes to score the crucial goal following a parry by substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens of Pau Cubarsí‘s shot.
This marks Merino’s second heroic performance in just a week, having scored a dramatic 91st-minute goal against Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday after entering the game in the 85th minute.
“I don’t even know what to say; I am in disbelief,” Merino shared with reporters after the match. “I thought doing this once would be a rare occurrence, and yet here we are again.”
“I believe in luck, but this isn’t just luck; it’s about staying prepared when I step onto the pitch. So, there’s no surprise in scoring late when I come on. I am always ready to help the team,” he added.
“It feels surreal to score in two consecutive matches after coming off the bench. My teammates kept telling me, ‘You’re going to score again.’ I always aim to contribute positively to the team’s efforts.”
Merino has now scored a match-winning goal for Spain in three major tournaments, including a 119th-minute winner against Germany during the last European Championships.
“I doubt this will happen again,” he conceded. “We’ll see how it unfolds. We have two more matches to win the World Cup, and I’m hopeful we can achieve that.”
“I feel fortunate and privileged to experience this alongside my family. This is undoubtedly a happy moment in my life.”
Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente praised Merino’s contributions once again.
“Mikel is phenomenal,” he said to reporters. “He possesses so many qualities and can excel in any position. We are fortunate to have him on our team; he always steps up when needed.”
Spain aimed for a face-off against France after Fabián Ruiz, who filled in for the injured Pedri, gave them a first-half lead.
Belgium equalized just before half-time with a header from Charles De Ketelaere, and the Red Devils appeared set to carry the match into extra time after a strong defensive showing in the second half.
However, Spain secured the win late in the match when Manchester United‘s Lammens, who replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois in the 71st minute, fumbled Cubarsí’s shot, allowing Merino to score.
Spain will now face France, a team they previously defeated in the semifinals of the 2024 European Championships and the UEFA Nations League in 2025, on Tuesday in Dallas for a chance to reach the final.
“It’s one elite team versus another,” De la Fuente remarked. “It’s fair to say both sides will have their share of worries. We are committed to working hard to defeat them; we’ve beaten them twice in a row.”