Handling Lionel Messi will be 'huge challenge' for Spain, admits Mikel Merino

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] skipper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a], 39, has been pivotal in dragging the defending champions into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=UgbUKPmT"]Sunday's final[/a] in East Rutherford, orchestrating a 2-1 semi-final victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] with two assists.[/p][p]Messi, the tournament's joint top-scorer with eight goals, also inspired a dramatic comeback against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] in the last 16, when Argentina fought back from 2-0 down with 11 minutes remaining to win 3-2.[/p][p]"[b]It's a huge challenge, an incredible motivation for me and the whole team[/b]," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Merino[/a] said of facing Messi.[/p][p]"[b]Being able to play against a side like Argentina, which has already won this trophy, makes the match even more significant, and I'm very happy to be experiencing this moment[/b]," Merino told reporters at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a]'s training base in East Hanover, New Jersey.[/p][image alt="Spain will be gunning to stop Messi on Sunday" id="0a9cccb3-cf4c-40a8-9f37-b04091e9079a" credit-line="ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia" guid="6233222d-e906-4b98-b611-48e623f40c17" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] ace Merino has played a decisive role in Spain's road to the final, coming off the substitutes bench to score late winners in a last-16 defeat of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] and a quarter-final victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a].[/p][p]"[b]I have incredible confidence in myself and my abilities, and every time I step onto the pitch, I believe I can make an impact for the team[/b]," Merino stated.[/p][p]"[b]But honestly, it doesn't matter who the hero is; the important thing is that the team wins in the end. "When you win a title, it belongs to everyone, not just the starting XI[/b]," he added.[/p][p]Merino meanwhile enthused about the "impressive" talent of 19-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a], who will face Messi for the first time in a clash representing the past and the future of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]FC Barcelona[/a].[/p][p]Merino, 30, predicted that the final would be "an intense match" and that the referee would need to "control the intensity and frequency of challenges and fouls."[/p][p]"[b]The faster the ball moves between us, the less time the opposition has to commit a foul[/b]," he noted.[/p][image alt="Win probability" id="865e9512-2415-49ef-8d0d-defaf3f3fbce" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="5f88803c-16c7-4d8c-b3d5-d26270304bce" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]The midfielder, who said he did not have "very clear memories" of Spain's first World Cup title in 2010, recalled the admiration of that trailblazing side.[/p][p]"[b]Being able to represent our country today and be those same players for new generations -- for the children watching us -- is something magical[/b]," he said.[/p][infobox id="26ec99f9-a02b-4f65-8fba-1965818547a7" /]