Merino's second‑half brace propels Spain into Nations League quarter‑finals

While Croatia clung to a 1-0 lead at half‑time, Mikel Merino turned the tide in the second period, delivering a brace that secured the Selección de España a place in the UEFA Nations League Final four. The Spanish side, known as La Roja, completed a perfect twelve points from twelve possible and extended their unbeaten run to forty‑one matches.

Early setback and Croatian advantage

Slaven Bilić’s Croatia struck first through Ivan Perišić in the seventeenth minute and failed to capitalise on Spain’s defensive lapses, heading into the break with a 1‑0 margin. Their inability to convert chances left them vulnerable to the Iberian resurgence.

Merino’s decisive impact

Merino, the Arsenal forward, opened the scoring at the sixty‑first minute, giving Spain a fleeting lead before Perišić’s equaliser. Ten minutes after Perišić’s dismissal for a second yellow, Merino netted the winner in the eighty‑ninth minute with a left‑footed finish after a deft control and turn inside the box.

The brace brought Merino’s tally for La Roja to fifteen goals, three of which came in the current Nations League campaign. It marked his third multi‑goal match for Spain, following a hat‑trick in a 6‑0 win over Turkey and a double in a 4‑0 victory against Bulgaria during the previous year’s European qualification.

Croatia 1-2 Spain: Mikel Merino the hero as La Roja advance to Nations League quarter-finals

Beyond the tournament, Merino has been Luis de la Fuente’s go‑to solution in crucial moments: a last‑minute extra‑time winner against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter‑finals, an equaliser against the Netherlands in the 2025 Nations League quarter‑finals, and decisive goals versus Portugal and Belgium in this year’s knockout stages, each scored after only a handful of minutes on the pitch.

Spain’s flawless group performance earned them twelve points and a guaranteed spot in the quarter‑finals, leaving only the top spot in Group C to secure. Upcoming fixtures against the Czech Republic on 12 November and England on 15 November, both at 13:45 Mexico time, will decide the group winner.

Croatia remains third in their group, six points behind the three Lions, and must win their final two matches against England and the Czech Republic to keep quarter‑final hopes alive.

Spain beat Croatia in Split as Sucic rests after his debut

The match has been highlighted as a preferred source on Google and featured prominently in Futbol coverage, underscoring Merino’s status as the talismanic figure for the Spanish national team.