FOOTBALL – Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s golden touch carried his side into the World Cup semi-finals on Friday as Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino, two players elevated by his bold selection calls, scored the goals in a tense 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium.
Fabian, a surprise starter after Pedri dropped to the bench, opened the scoring before Merino came on after 86 minutes and struck two minutes later, pouncing when substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold Pau Cubarsi’s low strike.
It was the third time Merino had scored a knockout winner as a substitute under De la Fuente, after his late extra-time goal against hosts Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and his late strike versus Portugal in the last 16 at this World Cup.
“It’s unfair that Mikel doesn’t play from the start, but it would also be unfair if someone else were left out,” de la Fuente told reporters.
“Only 11 can play, and they understand that – the role they have to play at any given moment. When they take to the pitch, they know what they have to do; that’s why it’s a pleasure to be their manager.”
De la Fuente stressed that European champions Spain’s run to the last four was built on collective responsibility rather than individual roles.
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