Mikel Merino, the Spain midfielder, has spoken about the importance of being a good person alongside being a good footballer, a philosophy he attributes to coach Luis de la Fuente. This approach has fostered a strong team environment, which Merino believes is crucial for their success, including their journey to the World Cup final.
The team’s unity is evident in their off-field interactions, with players engaging in activities like PlayStation, Mario Kart, and chess. Merino, however, prefers “sobremesa” – long conversations after meals, discussing life and future plans, highlighting the deep connections within the squad.
Merino’s remarkable journey to the final
Merino described the current year as “spectacular,” reflecting on a period that has included a Premier League title, a Champions League final, the birth of his son, and a World Cup final appearance. His path to the World Cup was challenged by a stress fracture in his foot, which required surgery at the end of January.
The injury initially cast doubt on his participation in the tournament. He spent two months on crutches and played only 28 minutes between January and the World Cup. Despite the adversity, he expressed immense joy at being part of the squad, stating, “Just being here is a victory for me.”
Merino has proven to be a significant impact player from the bench. At Euro 2024, he scored a 119th-minute goal against Germany, securing Spain’s place in the semi-finals. In the current World Cup, he scored a 91st-minute winner against Portugal in the last 16. Four days later, in Los Angeles, he scored another winner against Belgium, just over a minute after coming on as a substitute.
His celebrations for these goals have become notable, mirroring his father, Ángel Miguel, who scored a late goal for Osasuna in the same Stuttgart stadium 33 years prior. Merino acknowledges that coming off the bench is not ideal for any player, but he values every opportunity to contribute to the team.
Team cohesion and tactical approach
The collective strength of the Spain squad is a recurring theme. Merino noted that the team, assembled by Luis de la Fuente, focuses on being good humans first, which aids in their prolonged time together. This strong group dynamic is a result of many players having played under De la Fuente at junior levels, including the European Under-19s in 2015, where Merino and Rodri were central midfielders.
De la Fuente’s long-standing relationship with many of the players means he understands their capabilities as both individuals and footballers. This mutual trust has been a cornerstone of their recent success. Since the early stages of De la Fuente’s tenure, Spain has lost only once in 37 games, which was on penalties in a Nations League final. They have since won a Nations League and a Euros, and are now in the World Cup final.
In their 2-0 World Cup semi-final victory over France, Spain demonstrated a tactical approach involving passing triangles. This strategy created options and uncertainty for their opponents, allowing Spain to control the timing and location of open spaces on the pitch. The effectiveness of these triangles lies in their ability to force defenders into choices, with the geometry constantly changing as the ball moves.
This tactical fluidity was evident in Pedro Porro’s 58th-minute semi-final goal, where an exchange of passes with Dani Olmo shifted defenders’ focus and created a new angle for Porro’s return run. The speed at which Spain reconfigures its attacking shapes has been a key factor in their ability to overcome opponents. Spain will face Argentina in the World Cup final, which will take place in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Source: theguardian.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
