​Spain edged out Belgium at the final moment, with Mikel Merino once again emerging as the match-winner on a tense day. Pau Cubarsí had a speculative shot that Lammens spilled directly into the path of an Arsenal forward, who found the net two minutes after being introduced. Yet this is far from the first occasion Merino has stepped up to rescue his side. The story began at Euro 2024, where he lifted the trophy and sealed a dramatic win by scoring in the 119th minute of extra time to eliminate Germany in the quarter-finals. And if that conquest wasn’t enough, the same player delivered in this World Cup during the round of 16, scoring the decisive goal in the 91st minute to secure victory. Undoubtedly, Merino possesses a touch of magic that can turn tight fixtures in Spain’s favor. This article has been translated into English by artificial intelligence; the original version in Spanish can be read here.