Spain secured a 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Nations League on Tuesday, with Mikel Merino scoring twice in Split to seal qualification for the quarter-finals with two matches remaining.
Croatia took the lead in the 17th minute through Ivan Perišić, who capitalized on a rebound after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved Igor Matanović’s shot. Spain struggled in the first half, with Simón making crucial saves, including one from Matanović after a defensive error.
Merino, introduced at halftime, equalized in the 61st minute with a low finish after Dani Olmo’s pass. Croatia’s hopes faded when Perišić received a second yellow card for a foul on Marc Cucurella with 10 minutes left. Merino then struck again in the 89th minute, turning sharply before firing past Dominik Livaković to complete the comeback.
The win extended Spain’s unbeaten streak to 42 consecutive games. Spain now leads Group A3 with 12 points, three ahead of England. Croatia, still reeling from a 7-0 loss to England on Saturday, showed resilience but ultimately fell short.
After the match, Merino told Teledeporte he was “very happy to help once more,” adding that his role was to “press after losing the ball, attack the box, and try to hurt them.” Simón praised Merino as the man of the match, acknowledging first-half defensive lapses but emphasizing the team’s competitive spirit . Cucurella described Perišić’s dismissal as a clear second yellow .
