The night before a crucial moment in their careers, the Spain national team gathered at the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton, located just north of Johannesburg, reminiscing about their previous World Cup victory in 2010. While enjoying hot chocolate and croissants, they shared their aspirations for the upcoming final. This time, however, as they aim for glory 16 years later, the team will assemble at the MC Montclair in New Jersey, although the chocolate treats will not be part of the routine. Some traditions are left behind.
“I think the nutritionists killed that one for us!” Mikel Merino joked as he stepped off the bus, invigorated for the final and entering the tactics room at the Melanie Lane training facility, where Spain’s final preparations are underway. “We used to do the Cola Cao and cakes in the under-19s and under-21s, copying the seniors, but not any more. Everyone has their own routine, but the main thing is to normalise it all: just another game, doing something we know how to do, that we’ve done since we were five years old and that we love. Treat it like something to be enjoyed, another day in our lives.”
What a day it is poised to be. Merino describes the experience as “Just the other day we were talking about this; if you had given me the chance, I would have signed up for this: going through the bad moments to have a year like this is incredible. The experiences I’ve been through, that my family have.” “I’m living every minute with an incredible joy,” He has celebrated a Premier League title, reached a Champions League final, welcomed his first child, and now stands on the brink of a World Cup final. Yet, it all came close to slipping away due to injury. “Think where I was a few months ago and look where I am now. I appreciate this all the more.” he states. “When they told me about my injury I didn’t think I would be at the World Cup,”
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, reassured Merino that he would be patient while assessing the stress fracture in his foot. “Just being here is a victory for me,” the 30-year-old admitted. After undergoing surgery at the end of January, he felt a wave of relief; at least there was clarity and action being taken. Following two months on crutches, he returned to training with renewed determination.
He recalls days spent alone and others where his wife provided support, lifting him up during challenging times. “God willing we can win it.” he joked, “Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine this,” He discovered his own resilience, stronger than he had ever anticipated. However, he played only 28 minutes between January and the World Cup, leaving behind his newborn son, Marco. “My mum won’t buy that one, not even with a World Cup,” he expressed. “I’m proud to follow in my dad’s footsteps, to have learnt all I’ve learnt from him, and the respect will always be there … even if I have the medal! “Coming from the bench isn’t the ideal plan for any player, but when you join a national team that’s as strong as I and Lautaro have, you value every opportunity and try to help your team if you come on or if you don’t. You focus on the present, embrace the situation, and think of yourself as the guy who can do it. I have complete belief in myself, my ability: every time I come on to the pitch I think I can have impact. In the final, I hope anyone [Spanish] is the hero. The trophy belongs to all of you, not just the 11 on the pitch.”
Spain’s progress to this stage owes much to Merino, whose contributions have been invaluable, especially as a substitute. He has consistently been a game-changer from the bench. “It’s important to have ego as a footballer. With all the criticism from outside, you need it. But you also need the humility. Players come to the national team because they’re important [at their clubs] and find a new reality. It is easy to talk about ‘family’ but when things don’t go well, when they’re difficult, is when you truly see that. It’s thanks to Luis and the squad he assembled, focused on being a good human first and then being a good footballer. That helps a lot when it comes to spending a lot of time together. We know each other very well, we know when to joke, when to be silent; that’s the strength of the group. That after 46, 47 days all together, we’re still …” he reflected, though deep down, he had prepared for such moments. He does not sit back; instead, he analyzes the game intently.
At Euro 2024, he made a significant impact as a substitute against Germany by scoring a crucial goal in the 119th minute, propelling Spain to the semi-finals. In the World Cup, he netted a 91st-minute goal against Portugal that secured a quarter-final spot. Nevertheless, he felt the absence of his wife and son during that match. Four days later in Los Angeles, when they were present, he scored again against Belgium. He had only two touches on the ball; however, his awareness to initiate the play was nearly as significant as the goal itself.
All three of his goals have been celebrated in the same iconic manner, echoing his father’s legacy. Merino emulated his dad, Ángel Miguel, who famously circled the corner flag after scoring a late goal for Osasuna in the same Stuttgart stadium 33 years earlier. If he wins the World Cup, will he be able to claim superiority over his father? “I wouldn’t say we were bursting to spend another two months together,” he laughed. “Thank God, we’re coming to an end now, but, yes, we’re a very strong group. That’s why we’re here.”
“chatting about life, our kids, the future, holidays”
Merino elaborates, “I think a couple they’re planning to go away together [after the World Cup],”
Merino pauses, laughing. “Which is … impressive … after all this time. I don’t expect to see anyone!” he joked, chuckling. “I was talking to the coach about that the other day because it was the anniversary of that tournament,” While there may no longer be hot chocolate or croissants, players gather around the PlayStation, engaging in Mario Kart or chess, with Dani Olmo and Unai Simón sparring on the bus to matches. Merino prefers the traditional way, enjoying sobremesa—long discussions after meals, taking their time to leave the table, “We were saying ‘how we’ve changed’ But the essence is the same: the essence of the coach, of the players that came through. That’s the strength of the group. There are more grey hairs, more wrinkles, more worries, but the humility and commitment remains. “Luis has had [many of] us at under-17, under-19, under-21. That’s so important. Not just for him, who knows each and every one of us and knows what we can give, which is a guarantee for a coach. But for the players too: you’ve experienced everything with him, good and bad, and you don’t have to give him anything new, you know? He knows what you can give: you don’t need to pull anything out of the hat. He takes you because he knows you as a person and a player. The group knows he has total faith in them and he knows the group will give our lives for him.”
“Often, it’s more a case of believing than something you actually see,” he noted. “We have a very good group, a generation of players whose level is high. We knew there was potential there, we could see things happening. Even that night in Scotland, when many people gave us up for dead or thought it wasn’t going to go well with this generation, we trusted in what we were doing, we knew the group was spectacular. And, look, it’s paid off: we were proven right.”
This bond runs deep, founded on respect and nurtured over time. After the semi-final, De la Fuente shared a touching moment with some players, reminiscing about their achievements. Merino recalls winning his first title, the European Under-19s, back in 2015, eleven years ago. Merino and Rodri were key players that day, with Simón observing from the bench. Ten members of the current squad have been coached by De la Fuente at the junior level.
“The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI, that it wasn’t even real. It is funny how life works sometimes: it has these special situations that you think are scripted by someone but it is just the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable that two of the best to have played the game – hopefully Lamine in the future will be one of those – share a picture like that. It’s old, from a couple of years ago now, so I think all the jokes have been done [in here]. But it’s incredible. “What can I say about Messi? Just see the way he’s playing, how good he is at 39. I don’t know if this will be his last game, his last final. But it’s an incredible challenge to play against him. It will be an intense game, which it has to be: it’s a World Cup final. There will be contact, intense duels, but that’s why you have a referee: to control that. We have to ensure the ball moves fast. The less time it spends with each of us, the less chance they have of making fouls.” Merino revealed. “I remember how it felt to watch that [2010] generation make history,”
“You think about that. You think about being a kid back then, watching players who were idols for me and my teammates. You think about how you dreamed of living that one day, how watching them motivated you. And then you think that you’re the ones representing your country now, you’re the ones this new generation of kids are watching, and it’s something magical.”
This belief carried the team through when Spain lost to Scotland at the beginning of De la Fuente’s tenure, a period that seemed uncertain at best. Since then, Spain has lost just once in 37 matches, that defeat occurring on penalties in the Nations League final. They have secured a Nations League title, a European Championship, and now stand on the brink of a World Cup final.
“Often, it’s more about belief than what you can see,” Merino explained. “We have a remarkable group, a generation of players with exceptional talent. We recognized the potential, and we could see progress. Even that night in Scotland, when many had written us off or doubted this generation, we trusted in our direction, knowing the group was extraordinary. And, look, it has paid off; we were vindicated.”
Now, it’s Spain against Argentina. Messi versus Lamine. And that remarkable photo. “It’s unbelievable,” Merino reflected. “The first time I saw it, I thought it was generated by AI, that it wasn’t real. Life sometimes unfolds in peculiar ways, presenting scenarios that seem scripted, but they are merely the coincidences of life. It’s astonishing that two of the game’s greatest—hopefully, Lamine will be among them in the future—are captured in such a moment. The image is old, from a couple of years back now, so I think all the jokes have been exhausted. But it’s incredible.”
“What can I say about Messi? Just watch the way he plays, how incredible he remains at 39. I’m unsure if this will be his final match or his last final. Yet, facing him is an extraordinary challenge. It promises to be an intense game, as it must be: it’s a World Cup final. There will be contact, fierce duels, but that’s why we have a referee—to maintain control. We need to ensure the ball moves swiftly. The less time it spends with any of us, the fewer opportunities they have to commit fouls.”
And then they will play, as if it were just another day, as Spain has always done. “I remember the feeling of watching that [2010] generation make history,” Merino reflected. “You think about that. You remember being a child back then, watching players who were idols to me and my teammates. You reminisce about how you dreamed of experiencing that one day, how their performances inspired you. Now you realize that you are the ones representing your country, the ones that this new generation of kids looks up to, and it’s something truly magical.”
