Lautaro Martínez and Spain's Merino Share Common Ground Ahead of World Cup Final

Lautaro Martínez and Mikel Merino, key players for Argentina and Spain, respectively, find themselves in a similar situation ahead of the World Cup Final. Both may not start, but their teams' strength and the competition's magnitude make every player valuable.

What happened?

Mikel Merino, the Arsenal midfielder, spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the World Cup Final, revealing that he and Lautaro Martínez share a common ground. Both players might not start, but they are part of incredibly strong national teams. Merino admitted that for no player is starting on the bench the ideal game plan.

Why it matters for Lautaro Martínez

Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal as a substitute in the semi-final against England earlier this week. Merino also scored twice coming off the bench, delivering victories against Portugal in the Round of 16 and Belgium in the quarter-finals. This shows that both players are crucial to their teams' success, even if they don't start.

What comes next?

The World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina is set to be an intense match. Merino stated that it will be up to the referee to control the intensity and frequency of the challenges. He also praised Lionel Messi, saying that he's one of the best in history and has been playing at an incredible level in the World Cup.

Spain have matched Italy's unbeaten record, having not suffered any defeat in the previous 37 matches across all competitions. If they beat Argentina tomorrow, they'll beat the record the Azzurri set between 2018 and 2021.

Merino emphasized that it's not just about the 11 players who start the matches; it's about trying to help out every time you step onto the pitch. He believes that if you win a title, it belongs to everyone, not just the starting lineup.

The World Cup Final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, and it's expected to be a closely contested match. Merino's comments highlight the importance of every player, regardless of whether they start or not.

The rivalry heats up

The World Cup Final is a chance for Spain to dethrone the reigning champions, Argentina. Merino believes that facing Argentina, the reigning World Cup champion, is an added incentive. He described it as "sensational."

Merino also praised Lionel Messi, saying that he's one of the best in history and has been playing at an incredible level in the World Cup. He noted that Messi's age, 39, is impressive, and he doesn't know if it will be his last international match or his last final.

The stakes are high

The World Cup Final is a high-stakes match, and Merino acknowledged that it will be an intense game. He emphasized that it's up to the referee to control the intensity and frequency of the challenges. Merino also stated that his team likes to move the ball quickly and without pauses, which should give them an advantage.

Merino's comments provide insight into the mindset of the Spanish team ahead of the World Cup Final. He believes that every player is valuable, regardless of whether they start or not, and that the team's strength and the competition's magnitude make every player crucial to their success.

category: player_focus