Mikel Merino, the unlikely hero who honoured his father when Spain went crazy

Target Mikel Merino To get all of Spain on their feet is already part of the history of the team. A perfect header in a measured arrival and with the right thread to find the team that will help destroy the German dream and revive the dream of Spain, which is under pressure after a draw. Wirtz at the 90th minute.

“Of course, this is the most important goal of my career,” said the hero of the decisive strike in the quarter-final that smelled of the final. “It was the match we all expected, between the two best teams in the world. It could have been the World Cup final or the European Championship final.”

The Real Sociedad midfielder, born in Pamplona a few days after the 1996 Chupinazo, theoretically entered the scene 10 minutes before the end. Luis de la Fuente gave way to one of the leaders of that B division, which is so necessary to achieve glory in a championship like the European Cup, and sat down Nico Williams in a change of a clearly defensive nature.

The substitution that sacrificed Spain’s dizziness required a different kind of legs, more to strengthen the center of the field and be able to withstand the result, rather than to fly. As you already know, 10 minutes turned into 40. “Well, I’m dead, honestly,” admitted Merino, who had closed the circle for the most romantic thing in Stuttgart: his father, Miguel Merinoscored one of the goals that helped Osasuna beat Stuttgart in the 1991 UEFA Cup in the same stadium, and he, Mikel, imitated that celebration by walking around the pennant. To add to the charm, Mikel Merino received the legend in the same Coliseum where he made his debut with the national team.

“The adrenaline is taking its toll on me now. It was a unique moment. There’s a lot of work behind it, especially for my teammates who did a great job, and for them to equalise at 90 is a setback. But it’s a reward for perseverance and I think we deserve it,” said Mikel Merino, displaying almost the same humility as he embodied when recalling his father’s iconic celebration. Meanwhile, his teammates gathered around Merino, flying beer and all manner of objects all over Spain, but the Real Sociedad midfielder recalled what happened years before he was born.

“There is something about this stadium because it brings us luck. My father scored here too. It is a special stadium for us,” he recalled, as the signal smile fell from a player who was more than technically polished, but stood out for his dedication. “Those who came off the bench were very important, the level was very high. We showed that we can endure, that we have a great team,” emphasized the hero who almost no one was expecting.

If there is anyone who can really boast of trust in Merino, it is De la Fuente: “Today’s match was for those who are fans. It has not happened yet,” praised the coach, who praised Spain’s ability to play: “The goal was a heavy blow. The psychological effect is strong. We need a few minutes to get back to normal. Tell them that we can come back to do it like before. Until Mikel Merino’s great goal, we continued to insist that I want to appreciate this group of players.

Luis de la Fuente’s speech avoided praising one name above all else, despite the fact that all of Spain will always remember this match as “the match in which Mikel Merino scored”: “There is nothing more proud than representing the country and for the citizens to be with these players. These players are an example of values ​​for the country. Emotions are contagious for the people. I still don’t know what we will do, but we will always hold our heads high and leave Spain in the place it deserves. “, concluded the national coach.