NEW YORK, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Spain midfielder Mikel Merino urged caution after Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde on Tuesday in its FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match.
Spain were held by a stunning rearguard action by the World Cup debutants in the biggest surprise so far of the tournament and one which as already set alarm bells ringing in Spain after a sluggish opening display.
Speaking to the press, Merino admitted frustration at the result and pointed out that with a 48-team World Cup there was more time between games, when "you have lots of time," to think about a bad result when "what you want after a bad game is to play again straight away to get the bad taste out of your mouth."
"It's a mental challenge to deal with that," he admitted, adding that players "handle these moments in their own way (...) but with time I've realised that it is best to confront it and start trying to turn it around as soon as possible."
Merino insisted the World Cup "has just started, that there is time to fix it," and that it was important to "focus on the group, on what helps them. Put a hand on the shoulder of whoever is hurt because they didn't play, or missed a chance."
The Arsenal midfielder also looked on the positive side, remembering Spain's 2010 World Cup triumph in South Africa, which kicked off with a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland, and Argentina's 2022 campaign also got off to a losing start.
"The last world champion (Argentina) started by losing to Saudi Arabia. In 2010,Spain lost the first game and there was lots of criticism and they turned it around; that is an example to follow," he said.
