​France has been put on alert. A few years ago, it was Jude Bellingham who held the football world in suspense as stoppage time ticked away. Today, that same mantle belongs to Mikel Merino. Over the course of two major tournaments, the Spanish midfielder has already carved out a reputation for delivering late-match heroics for Spain on three occasions in the dying moments of a game.
In the previous round against Portugal, the Arsenal midfielder had already emerged as the decisive man in the 91st minute, delivering a decisive contribution for his team. He repeated the feat tonight against Belgium, scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 victory for La Roja. These late strikes have become a hallmark of Merino’s impact when the stakes are at their highest.
The drama did not end there. Back at Euro 2024, during the quarter-finals against Germany, Merino once again appeared at the pivotal moment, stepping up to spare Spain a penalty shootout by finding the net in the 119th minute. His late strikes have established a pattern: Merino thrives when the match is slipping toward the final moments, tipping the balance in Spain’s favor when it matters most.
France now faces a daunting prospect in the upcoming semi-final against the Spaniards, knowing they must contend with a player who has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to change the outcome of a game in stoppage time. Merino’s late-game prowess has become a defining feature of his international career, underscoring Spain’s strength and resilience as they push toward the tournament’s final stages.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in French here.