Merino and Lautaro: Shared World Cup Final Challenge

Mikel Merino, an Arsenal player, has revealed a common sentiment he shares with Lautaro Martinez as they both prepare for the World Cup Final. Merino acknowledged that for any player, being on the bench is not the ideal scenario.

Spain, with Merino, and Argentina, with Lautaro Martinez, are set to face each other in the World Cup Final. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Merino expressed that both he and Lautaro might not be in the starting lineup.

"For no player is starting on the bench the ideal game plan," Merino stated.

Merino: Common Ground with Lautaro Ahead of World Cup Final

Merino elaborated, "However, both Lautaro and I, as top players, find ourselves in this situation because we are part of incredibly strong national teams. Both of us must appreciate the quality of our teammates and the significance of this competition."

Both players have demonstrated their impact even when coming off the bench. Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal in Argentina's semi-final victory over England as a substitute. Similarly, Merino contributed significantly with two goals as a substitute, securing wins for Spain against Portugal in the Round of 16 and Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Spain's defense has been formidable in the World Cup, having conceded only one goal. Merino emphasized the team's collective spirit: "It’s about trying to help out every time you step onto the pitch, and if you don’t play, it’s fine even in training. Because if you win a title, it belongs to everyone, not just the 11 who start the matches, and that’s how we see it here."

Looking ahead to the final, Merino anticipates an intense contest: "It will be an intense match, as a final should be, where two teams are playing for the most important trophy in our sport. It’s normal for there to be contact, for there to be fierce duels, because when so much is at stake, that’s how you have to approach it. It will be up to the referee to control the intensity and frequency of the challenges. We like the ball to move quickly, and without pauses, and if we manage that, the opponent will have less time to foul."

Merino also commented on Lionel Messi, calling him "one of the best in history" and expressing admiration for his performance at 39 years old. He reflected on the difficulty of facing such legendary players and the motivation of competing against the reigning World Cup champions, Argentina.

Spain is currently on an impressive unbeaten streak of 37 matches across all competitions, matching Italy's record. A victory against Argentina in the final would set a new record.