Mikel Merino scores twice as Spain beats Croatia 2-1 to reach Nations League quarter-finals

Early Croatian pressure in Split

Croatia entered the fixture at Stadion Poljud in Split looking to recover from a 7–0 loss against England, which followed a 4–1 defeat to Spain and an opening 2–1 victory over Czechia. Head coach Slaven Bilić fielded an experienced lineup that included 37-year-old winger Ivan Perišić and captain Luka Modrić in midfield. The hosts generated the earliest opportunities, beginning in the 13th minute when Josip Stanišić directed a header into Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón. Four minutes later, Mateo Kovačić led a Croatian counterattack and played the ball to Igor Matanović. Simón parried Matanović's shot, but Perišić reacted first to head the rebound into the net in the 17th minute, handing the home team a 1–0 advantage.

Prior to the match, Modrić addressed the squad's form following their heavy defeat against England.

I have been here for 20 years, but for the first time in my life I feel shame after a match.

Spanish adjustments and the equalizer

Croatia had a clear opportunity to double their lead in the 23rd minute after a defensive miscommunication between Simón and his backline, but Matanović was unable to convert the one-on-one duel against the goalkeeper. Spain generated few chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Mikel Oyarzabal heading straight at Dominik Livaković and 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal hitting the side netting from a tight angle following a pass from Pedri. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente changed his setup at half-time, bringing on Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino in place of Álex Baena. The visitors increased their tempo after the break, controlling possession while Croatia retreated into their penalty area. In the 61st minute, Dani Olmo gathered a cleared ball and passed to Merino, who placed a low left-footed shot into the far corner of the net to equalize.

Red card and decisive late strike

Croatia mounted sporadic attacks as the second half progressed, including a chance for Perišić 15 minutes before the end that Simón stopped following an error by Spain. However, Croatia's defensive position deteriorated in the 79th minute when Perišić committed a foul on Spanish defender Marc Cucurella. The Belgian referee issued Perišić a second yellow card, resulting in a dismissal that left the hosts with ten players. Spain took advantage of the numerical superiority as Luis de la Fuente introduced Martín Zubimendi, Fermín López, Javi Muñoz, and Yeremy Pino. In the 88th minute, Zubimendi played a lofted pass into the penalty area toward Merino. Merino controlled the delivery inside the box and beat Livaković to secure the 2–1 victory.

Unbeaten streak and Nations League standings

The 2–1 victory in Split confirmed Spain's qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Spain maintains a perfect record in the tournament with four wins from four matches, having previously defeated England 3–2, Croatia 4–1, and Czechia 3–1. The result also extended Spain's overall unbeaten run to 42 matches in all competitions, stretching back to a friendly defeat against Colombia on 22 March 2024. For Croatia, the loss marked their third consecutive defeat in the group after beginning the campaign with a 2–1 victory against Czechia.