Merino the super sub again as Spain edge Belgium to set up France semi
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- Mikel Merino stepped off the bench for the second consecutive match to score the decisive goal in Spain's 2-1 win over Belgium, reaching the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time after 2010, when they lifted the trophy.
- Merino's January stress fracture in an unusual area of his foot had put his World Cup participation in doubt; he did not return for Arsenal until a month before the tournament began.
- Spain will face France in the semi-final, setting up a head-to-head between Kylian Mbappé and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has scored only once in six World Cup matches and has been working his way back from injury.
- Yamal has sometimes opted to shoot when a pass was the better choice, but ex-England striker Wayne Rooney argued his dribbling and pace still create space for players like Merino, comparing his occasional wrong decisions to those of Lionel Messi.
- Spain have conceded just one goal all tournament — Belgium's opener — but ex-Spain defender César Azpilicueta warned the defence faces a major test against a free-scoring France led by Mbappé.
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has already redeployed the traditionally midfield Merino as a striker, the first such occasion being his two-goal cameo off the bench in a 2-0 win at Leicester in February 2024.
Why it matters: Spain's run to the semi-finals matches their 2010 peak, and a victory over France would put them one win from a first World Cup final since lifting the trophy. Merino's emergence as a reliable super sub covers for Lamine Yamal's quiet tournament, but Spain will need Yamal to click against a free-scoring French attack that has scored at a higher rate than any Spain opponent so far.
