Mikel Merino came off the bench to send Spain into the World Cup semi-finals - but Lamine Yamal is still waiting for his moment to truly shine.

For almost any side looking to be successful they need match winners throughout the team - and Spain are proving they have them as Mikel Merino delivered in his role as super sub once again to send the European champions into the World Cup semi-finals. The Arsenal midfielder stepped off the bench for the second successive game to score the decisive goal - this time securing a 2-1 victory against Belgium. The win means Spain are into last four of the tournament for only the second time. The last time they made it there - in 2010 - they went on to lift the trophy. Merino's latest heroics have set up a meeting with France for a place in the final and also a mouthwatering showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, who - by contrast to the Frenchman - is yet to make his mark at this World Cup. Few footballers relish developing a reputation as a super sub - someone who can come off the bench and make an impact - because they would rather be starting games on the pitch. But just being a part of Spain's World Cup squad was something Merino could not envisage just a few months ago. In January, he suffered an unusual injury to his foot - a stress fracture in an area even specialists had not seen before. It not only ruled Merino out of action for Arsenal but also left his World Cup hopes in huge doubt as he was unable to return to action for the Gunners until just a month before the tournament got under way.