Mikel Merino double off the bench sends Spain into Nations League quarter-finals with 2-1 win in Croatia
Spain came from behind in Split as substitute Mikel Merino scored twice after Ivan Perisic's early header, making it four wins from four in Group A3.
Spain booked their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals on Tuesday night, coming from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 at the Stadion Poljud in Split. Substitute Mikel Merino scored both Spanish goals after Ivan Perisic had given the hosts an early lead.
The match kicked off in the early hours of Wednesday Malaysia time, and the result means Luis de la Fuente's side have now won all four of their League A Group 3 matches, with two group games still to play in November.
Perisic puts Croatia in front
Croatia started with the intensity of a team stung by their previous outing, a heavy 7-0 defeat by England earlier in the window. They pressed high and made Spain uncomfortable in the opening quarter.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon had already been forced into a sharp save from a Kristijan Jakic header before the breakthrough came in the 17th minute. Igor Matanovic's shot was parried by Simon and the veteran Perisic reacted first to head in the rebound.
Croatia had a chance to double their lead minutes later when Matanovic won the ball inside the area, but his effort was stopped. Spain, for all their possession, struggled to find a way through a compact home defence before half-time.
Merino changes the game
De la Fuente made the decisive move at the interval, sending on Merino in place of Alex Baena. The change gave Spain a more direct presence arriving in the box, and it paid off on the hour mark when Merino levelled in the 61st minute.
Spain kept the ball for long spells, with possession figures of around 72%, and Croatia's energy began to fade. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Merino struck again in the 88th minute to complete the turnaround.
Croatia's evening got worse late on when Perisic, the goalscorer, was shown a second yellow card and sent off.
Spain's perfect record and the group picture
The victory made it four wins out of four for Spain and secured their spot in the quarter-finals. On the same night England beat Czechia 3-0 at Wembley, leaving Spain on 12 points and England on 9 with two rounds to go.
That sets up a potentially decisive meeting between the two sides in November, when the group winner will be settled. Czechia are still without a point, while Croatia, after a 7-0 loss to England and now this defeat, have plenty to fix before November.
Why it matters for Spain
Spain won the Nations League in 2023 and have built a reputation for squad depth. Tuesday's result was another example: a substitute coming off the bench to score twice in an away match against one of Europe's more experienced teams.
It also showed Spain can win without dominating on the scoreboard. They were behind for more than 40 minutes in a hostile stadium and still found a way, which will please De la Fuente as the knockout rounds approach.
For Malaysian viewers who stayed up for the late kick-off, Merino's two goals provided the main talking point of a busy Tuesday night of Nations League football in Europe.
Key takeaways
- Spain beat Croatia 2-1 in Split to secure a Nations League quarter-final place.
- Ivan Perisic headed Croatia in front in the 17th minute before later being sent off for a second booking.
- Half-time substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 61st and 88th minutes.
- Spain have 12 points from four games; England are second on 9 after beating Czechia.
FAQ Who scored for Spain against Croatia? Mikel Merino scored both goals, in the 61st and 88th minutes, after coming on at half-time for Alex Baena. Have Spain qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals? Yes. Four straight wins in Group A3 secured their place in the last eight with two games left. When do Spain play England? The two sides meet in the final round of group matches in November, which will decide who tops Group A3.
Sources: UEFA, Goal, VAVEL, The FA