I am very flattered. I've always said that I feel very valued by players, by staff. And for me that's the ultimate. Moreover, that they also transmit it to you. It is a reason to be happy because that means that I help them - that I contribute positive things within the team, which is what I want. It is a great compliment.
Merino is surely good enough to be getting more opportunities with Arsenal, with the former Real Sociedad man earning a 9.9 score from WhoScored in the game against Bulgaria. Their stats show that Merino had two shots on target and scored with both of them, while he also made one successful tackle and interception, and completed 87% of his passes.
Spain have reacted impressively since their penalty shootout loss to Portugal in June's UEFA Nations League final. Luis de la Fuente's side opened their World Cup qualifying journey with a commanding 3-0 win over Bulgaria away from home, followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Turkey in their second September fixture. That momentum continued on Saturday, when they defeated Georgia 2-0 at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Elche.
Barcelona's Dani Olmo will miss Spain's World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria with a calf problem, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed Friday. Olmo, 27, will return to Barcelona for tests to determine the severity of the injury. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Olmo had joined up with Spain earlier this week with fatigue and some discomfort in his calf.
Dean Huijsen has an injury and has withdrawn from the National Team squad to play the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Georgia in Elche and Bulgaria in Valladolid. The Real Madrid defender arrived with symptoms of muscle fatigue on Monday night. On Tuesday he did not train and his club was informed that the evolution was not positive, and on Wednesday morning he underwent a medical test that confirms a muscle injury of which Real Madrid has already been informed. We wish him a speedy recovery.
If Spain are to come anywhere close to their 2008-2010 feats and back up their European Championship title by adding the World Cup, then they have a central problem. Literally. It's a 6-foot-2, 118-pound problem by the name of Rodri Hernández: Ballón d'Or winner, leader, champion, enforcer, brainiac, and someone without whom, on top form, Spain simply won't lift their second Mundial trophy in New Jersey next July.
"If I'd felt pressure, I would have brought him in," De la Fuente said. "We monitor all the goalkeepers, and Joan could be here now, before, or in the future. And not because he's at Barca. I want to tell you that players from clubs don't come here; this is the national team, regardless of the club they come from. "Let's not make assumptions about whether six or seven come from one club... Let's give this importance. Joan's time will come, for sure."
