Mikel Merino emerged from the substitutes’ bench to rescue Spain on Tuesday night, scoring two second‑half goals to earn a 2‑1 comeback win over Croatia and confirm his country’s passage to the Nations League quarter‑finals.
The Arsenal midfielder stepped onto the pitch with Spain trailing by a goal and facing a disciplined Croatian side desperate to restore their pride. His late double overturned the deficit, ensuring that Luis de la Fuente’s team extended their fine winning streak to 11 consecutive matches in all competitions.
The fixture tested the reigning world champions from the opening whistle. Croatia were eager to bounce back following an embarrassing 7‑0 loss against England in their previous group appearance, and that urgency showed in their early commitment across the pitch. The Nations League, introduced to give national teams more competitive games, pits the continent’s strongest sides against each other in a league‑format that feeds into a knockout phase. For Spain, a spot in the quarter‑finals means another chance at an international trophy beyond the World Cup and the European Championship.
Ivan Perišić stunned the visitors inside the first 20 minutes. The veteran attacker found the back of the net in the 17th minute, rewarding an aggressive start by the home side and putting Spain behind early. Perišić’s goal came after a quick transition that caught the Spanish defence off guard, and it gave Croatia a platform to organise their shape for the remainder of the half.
Croatia defended their lead resolutely throughout the remainder of the first half. When the referee whistled for the break, the home fans rose to their feet to give their players a standing ovation, acknowledging a vastly improved display compared to their collapse against England. The applause reflected a collective belief that the team could still salvage a point despite the early setback.
Merino turns the tide in second half
De la Fuente altered his approach after the interval, demanding sharper movement and sustained pressure in the final third. The Spaniards began to control possession and pinned the hosts deep in their own half. The tactical shift saw midfielders drop closer together, creating passing lanes that forced Croatia to sit back and defend for longer periods.
Their persistence paid off just past the hour mark. In the 61st minute, Croatian defenders failed to clear their lines properly, allowing Dani Olmo to pounce on the loose ball. Olmo quickly fed Merino, who remained composed inside the box and slotted home the equaliser. The goal came after a period of sustained Spanish pressure that finally forced a mistake, and Olmo’s involvement highlighted the creative spark that has been a hallmark of Spain’s recent play.
Spain continued to push forward in search of all three points. Young winger Lamine Yamal came close to putting them ahead shortly after, but his goal‑bound strike was charged down by a determined block from the Croatian defence. Yamal’s effort demonstrated the depth of talent that De la Fuente can call upon, with the 17‑year‑old already making headlines in senior internationals.
Croatia tried to respond through Perišić, who forced a sharp save with a powerful shot. His evening soon unravelled, however. The 37‑year‑old was shown a second yellow card following a reckless foul on Spanish left‑back Marc Cucurella. The referee gave Perišić his marching orders, reducing Croatia to 10 men for the final stretch of the encounter. Playing with a man down forced the hosts to adopt a more defensive posture, opening up space for Spain’s attackers to exploit.
Late winner seals knockout place
Playing with an extra man, Spain launched wave after wave of attacks as the clock ticked down. Croatia held on gamely, trying to preserve a point, but the pressure finally told two minutes from time.
The winning goal came from a link‑up between Arsenal teammates. Martin Zubimendi spotted Merino’s run through the middle and delivered a precision pass into his path. Merino met the ball cleanly, finishing with confidence to break Croatian hearts in the 88th minute. The combination show the chemistry that the two Spaniards have developed at club level, a factor that often translates into international matches.
The strike sealed a dramatic 2‑1 triumph, confirming Spain’s dominance in League A Group 3. Merino’s heroics off the bench maintained the team’s momentum and underlined the depth available to De la Fuente.
The three points keep Spain firmly at the summit of the group standings. They now hold a three‑point cushion over second‑placed England, who kept up the pursuit earlier on Tuesday by picking up a routine 3‑0 victory against the Czech Republic. England’s win kept them in contention near the top of the table, but Spain’s win against Croatia definitively locked in their qualification for the Nations League quarter‑finals.
De la Fuente’s men will now turn their focus to the upcoming knockout rounds as they chase another piece of international silverware. The next match will pit Spain against a fellow Group A opponent, and the squad will look to preserve the blend of experience and youthful energy that has delivered 11 straight wins across all competitions. The quarter‑finals promise tighter margins, and the Spanish coaching staff will likely rely on the same bench impact that Merino provided, knowing that a single substitution can change the complexion of a game.
As the tournament progresses, the spotlight will shift to how Spain manages the physical demands of back‑to‑back fixtures while maintaining the high standards set by their recent performances. With the Nations League offering a direct route to a trophy and a chance to test squad depth ahead of future major tournaments, the stakes remain high for a side that has already shown resilience in turning a deficit into a decisive victory.
