Mikel Merino Is Spain’s Much-Needed Closer

For all of its defensive solidity and possession dominance, Spain has been missing a finishing touch in this World Cup.

It hurt the Spaniards in the opening match, the stunning draw to Cape Verde.

It made them struggle against Uruguay in an ugly game on the final day of the group stage.

The 3-0 romp against over-matched Austria felt like a turning point, but then the dreadful viewing on display in the team's 1-0 victory in the round of 16 over Portugal felt like a regression to the mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXl7zZ1ISc">Friday's quarterfinal against a hobbled Belgium was more of the same: A lot of possession, some decent chances, and little to show for it.

Then, just as he did in the dying embers of the Portugal match, Mikel Merino showed up and scored Spain into the next round.

Not bad for a player who was, for most of his career, nominally a defensive midfielder.