Merino goal ends Olaya's 40-year World Cup wound

Eloy Olaya says Mikel Merino’s late goal against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals healed a wound that had lasted 40 years.

The former Spain, Sporting Gijón and Valencia forward missed a penalty in Spain’s 1986 defeat to Belgium, and the latest meeting stirred all those memories back up. Speaking to Radio Marca programme El D'Ortega, he said he would only have one thing to tell Merino: “Thank you.”

Olaya said the two matches felt eerily similar, from the opponent to the stage of the tournament and the way the game unfolded. He added that Spain’s win felt like a completed cycle after four decades.

He also praised Luis de la Fuente’s side for their mentality, saying they kept pushing until the end and deserved the reward. Olaya later revealed that the goal prompted a flood of calls and messages from old friends, former team-mates and media outlets.

Looking ahead to the semi-final against France, he described the tie as even, while backing Spain’s team spirit, defensive order and strength from the bench.