De la Fuente: This is a match that can help Yamal grow and transform.

Thanks to Merino's crucial goal, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals. Coach De la Fuente stated that this was a match that would help Yamar develop and expressed hope that the young player could continue his excellent performance.

Spain launched a free kick attack in stoppage time of the second half. Ferran Torres played a through ball, and Merino fired a low shot into the net, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

Ultimately, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, successfully continuing their journey in this World Cup.

Speaking about Yamar, who played the full 90 minutes in the match, Spain coach De la Fuente said, "For me, Yamar participated in one of the most important matches of his life today. Whether his performance was amazing or not, in my opinion, it was a match that can help him grow and transform."

"Yamaal delivered a fantastic performance. He consistently gives his all for the team, both defensively and defensively. Whenever he has the ball, he always makes the opponents hesitate and feel uneasy, posing a significant threat. We still need Yamar in this World Cup, and we hope he continues to grow and deliver performances like this."

Furthermore, Portugal's head coach Roberto Martinez stated, "The Portuguese people should be proud of this team and its players, but this defeat is very regrettable. We hit the post, and I think we should have taken the game into extra time."

“We did a great job defensively, and our opponents were one of the favorites to win this World Cup. Perhaps we just lacked a bit of luck, and luck wasn’t on our side, but it was definitely a very close match.”

Image source: Internet