Mikel Merino ya zura ƙwallon da ta yanke hukunci a ƙarshen wasan don kawar da Portugal da kuma kai Spain zuwa wasan kusa da na karshe na Kofin Duniya na FIFA — karo na farko da suka kai wannan matakin tun da suka lashe kofin a shekarar 2010.

Wasan zagaye na 16 da aka yi ranar Litinin ya ƙare da Spain ta ci gaba, inda ƙwallon Merino ta nuna bambancin tsakanin ƙasashen Iberia biyu masu hamayya. Wannan nasara babban nasara ce ga Spain, waɗanda ba su kai zagaye na ƙarshe takwas na Kofin Duniya ba tsawon shekaru 15.

Nasarar Spain ta 2010 a Afirka ta Kudu ta kasance babban nasarar da suka taɓa samu a Kofin Duniya, kuma sakamakon Litinin yana nuna sabbin sha'awar ƙasar don sake yin gasar don lambar yabo mafi girma a wasan.