Mikel Merino's Late Double Fires Spain to Nations League Quarter-Finals

Spain secured their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia in Split. Despite falling behind early, the World Cup winners maintained their perfect record in Group A3 and extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 42 matches.

A Tactical Turnaround

The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when Ivan Perisic headed home a rebound after a save from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. Croatia looked dangerous throughout the first half, forcing Simon into several crucial interventions to prevent the deficit from widening.

Everything changed at the interval when Spain manager Luis de la Fuente introduced Mikel Merino. The midfielder leveled the score in the 61st minute with a precise low finish following an assist from Dani Olmo. The momentum shifted entirely when Perisic was sent off for a second yellow card following a challenge on Marc Cucurella.

With the numerical advantage, Spain pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Merino proved to be the hero once again, controlling a pass from Martin Zubimendi before firing a clinical left-footed strike into the top corner with just two minutes remaining. This result confirms Spain's progression to the last eight with two group matches still to play.