Spain's Last Ditch Savior: How Merino Came Through in the Clutch The World Cup is a crucible for teams, testing their mettle and often requiring an unexpected hero to turn the tide of history.
For Spain, Dani Olmo had been touted as a breakout star, but it was 24 year old midfielder Mikel Merino who stole the show against Portugal.
The game's outcome hung in the balance with less than an hour to go, and while Spain's attack had been stagnant, Merino's introduction off the bench injected a much needed spark.