Substitute Mikel Merino scored twice as world champions Spain came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 at Stadion Poljud in Split on Tuesday night and seal their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Ivan Perišić headed Croatia in front, but he was sent off for a second yellow card in the 79th minute, and Merino struck the winner two minutes from time.
Spain have won all four of their Group 3 games. Slaven Bilić's Croatia, beaten 7-0 by England on Saturday, were far better in front of their home crowd, but have now lost three in a row.
Match facts
- Result: Croatia 1-2 Spain (half-time 1-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 3, Matchday 4
- Venue: Stadion Poljud, Split
- Scorers: Croatia - Perišić 17'; Spain - Merino 61', 88'
- Red cards: Perišić (Croatia) 79', second yellow
- Next: England v Croatia, Thursday 12 November; Czechia v Spain, Thursday 12 November
How the match unfolded
Croatia started at a high tempo, and in the 13th minute Unai Simón saved a header from Josip Stanišić. In the 17th minute they were ahead: Mateo Kovačić carried the ball forward and found Igor Matanović, Simón parried his shot, and Perišić headed in the rebound.
Simón then almost gifted the hosts a second. His pass was intercepted, Nikola Vlašić set up Matanović, and the goalkeeper made amends with a fine save. Perišić was booked in the 22nd minute. Spain had little to show for their possession until just before half-time, when Mikel Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal both went close.
Luis de la Fuente sent on Merino for Álex Baena at the break, and Spain improved at once. Dani Olmo just failed to reach a Yamal cross with a diving header, and in the 61st minute they were level. Stanišić headed a clearance only as far as Olmo, who laid the ball off to Merino, and the Arsenal midfielder swept a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
In the 65th minute Bilić replaced Matanović and the just-booked Luka Modrić with Dion Beljo and Petar Sučić. Spain brought on Martín Zubimendi and Fermín López for Rodri and Olmo in the 71st minute.
Croatia nearly went back in front when Perišić seized on a misplaced pass from Zubimendi, but Simón kept out his shot. Moments later, in the 79th minute, the 37-year-old was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Marc Cucurella.
Spain pushed for the winner against 10 men, and it came in the 88th minute. Zubimendi played the ball into the area, and Merino controlled it, turned and drove a left-footed shot past Dominik Livaković.
What it means
Spain have 12 points and are three clear of England, who beat Czechia 3-0 at Wembley on Tuesday. Croatia are third on three points and Czechia have none. With two games left, Spain are sure of a top-two finish and a quarter-final place next year. They have not lost in 90 minutes or extra time since March 2024, and this was a second win over Croatia in eight days after a 4-1 victory in Seville on 29 September.
For Croatia, the reaction Bilić demanded after the 7-0 defeat by England lasted for more than an hour, but they are now six points behind England.
Merino, who also scored in the 3-1 win over Czechia on Saturday, told Spanish television he was "very happy to be able to help the team" again from the bench. He said De la Fuente had told him to "go out and do what I know how to do", keep the ball and get into the box.
What happens next
Croatia face England at Wembley on Thursday 12 November (19:45 UK), then host Czechia in Osijek on Sunday 15 November. Spain play Czechia in Prague on 12 November and finish at home to England in Madrid on 15 November.