Why doesn't Mikel Merino start for Spain at World Cup?

ARLINGTON, TX — After scoring the winning goal in Spain's last two World Cup games, you would think Mikel Merino would earn himself a spot in the starting lineup.

You would likely be wrong.

Merino is Spain's "super sub," coming on late in games to take advantage of the worn-out opposing defense. Merino came on in the 86th minute of the quarterfinal against Belgium, and scored two minutes later to secure Spain's 2-1 win. In the round of 16 against Portugal, Merino scored the game-winner in the first minute of stoppage time after coming on in the 85th minute.

Merino is the first substitute in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout stage matches.

"You should (not) get used to seeing me score in the final minute every time, because that’s very unlikely to happen again," Merino said after Spain's win over Belgium. “Still, whenever I’m on a football pitch, I’ll be ready.”

Super sub role familiar for Merino

As opportunistic as Merino has been, it's a fair question to ask why he's not starting for Spain.

But "super subs" can make just as big an impact as starters. When Merino comes in with five or 10 minutes left in the game, his legs are fresh and he has all the adrenaline of a 4-year-old on a sugar rush. The opposing defense, meanwhile, is gassed, having been running, scrapping for balls and maintaining intense focus for more than an hour. So Merino has a better chance of finding holes and catching the defense flat-footed than he might if he was playing 75 or 90 minutes.

It's a role Merino has become accustomed to playing for Spain, too.

Two years ago, when La Roja won the European championship, Merino came on in the 79th minute in the quarterfinal against Germany. He scored in the 119th minute to give Spain a 2-1 win.

"He's very versatile," Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said. "He has an exceptional understanding of the game. He has that vision that the team needs and the calmness to read moments in the game."

And the knack for finding the back of the net late in the game.

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