Mikel Merino scored twice in the second half as world champions Spain came from behind to defeat Croatia 2-1 in Split on 7 October, booking their place in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. The victory extended Spain's unbeaten run to an extraordinary 42 matches and delivered a perfect four wins from four group games.

How the match unfolded

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, stung by his side's humiliating 7-0 defeat to England on Saturday, demanded a 'game for men' — and got exactly that in a combative opening half. Despite Spain fielding Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Rodri from the start and enjoying the bulk of possession, the hosts were the sharper side in the early exchanges.

Goalkeeper Unai Simon was the busiest man in a Spain shirt, producing an acrobatic stop to deny Josip Stanisic and then blocking Igor Matanovic from close range. Ivan Perisic, however, pounced on the rebound to give Croatia the lead in the 20th minute. Simon went on to smother further efforts from Matanovic and Josko Gvardiol, keeping the deficit to one.

Spain's first-half threat was limited. Mikel Oyarzabal wasted the best opportunity with a tame header from an Aymeric Laporte cross, while Yamal dragged a shot into the side netting.

Merino changes the game at halftime

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made a decisive substitution at the interval, bringing on Merino in place of Alex Baena. The change paid immediate dividends. On the hour mark, Merino equalised after a clever through-ball from Dani Olmo, having earlier been denied by Dominik Livakovic when Yamal forced the save.

Spain's path to the lead was not without jeopardy. In the 78th minute, a misplaced pass from substitute Martin Zubimendi — who had come on for Rodri — handed Perisic an opening, only for Simon to produce yet another fine stop. A minute later, Perisic was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for a reckless challenge from behind on Marc Cucurella, leaving Croatia with ten men.

Merino seals it in the 88th minute

With Croatia reduced to ten men, Spain pressed for the winner. Merino delivered it in the 88th minute, collecting a pass from Zubimendi, turning sharply, and firing into the top corner to confirm Spain's quarterfinal berth. It was a moment of individual quality that masked what had been a far from comfortable evening for the world champions.

Context and what comes next

Spain's 42-match unbeaten run is one of the longest in international football and underlines the depth of a squad that won the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Croatia, by contrast, are enduring a turbulent Nations League campaign after the England rout and will reflect on what might have been had Perisic stayed on the pitch. Spain will now wait to learn their quarterfinal opponents when the group stage concludes. Notably, this is the fourth consecutive time Spain have progressed from a Nations League group without dropping a point in any completed run, underscoring their dominance in the competition's format.