‘Don’t panic’: Mikel Merino tells Spain to stay calm after Cape Verde setback

Midfielder says it is important the European champions have ‘humility’ after disappointing draw against debutants

The mourning after isn’t always easy, Mikel Merino says – and yes that is mourning with a “u”. “No one died, it’s not a mourning exactly, but at times defeats can feel like that,” the Arsenal midfielder admitted and, although it wasn’t actually a defeat at all, this was one of those times. A 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their World Cup opener was not the way Spain dreamed it; now, Merino insisted as the selección returned to their Tennessee training camp six long days before they get the chance to make amends, they must deal with it. Each in their own way, but as a family.

There they faced a Spanish inquisition too, which was why Merino – the only player not out on the pitch at 11am the morning after a damaging, unexpected draw in Atlanta – was the player chosen to appear in the press room. Seven long desks full of journalists faced him to go with all the noise outside. All part of the game, he called it. “If there’s one thing that’s not good for us, it is for there to be panic,” he said. So here he was, 30 minutes of questions managed with clarity and conviction, offering insight and inspiration. Remember 2010 when Spain lost their first game and won the World Cup? Merino does. He had just turned 14.

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