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Spain Triumphs Over Croatia with Merino’s Brace in UEFA Nations League Clash

Mikel Merino emerged as the unexpected hero for Spain, scoring twice in the second half to overturn a deficit and beat Croatia 2-1 at Stadion Poljud. This win guarantees Luis de la Fuente’s team a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

Spain controlled the ball for an impressive 72% of the match but fell behind early when Ivan Perisic finished off a move assisted by Igor Matanovic in the 17th minute. Croatia’s disciplined defensive setup, including 21 clearances, made it difficult for La Roja to create clear chances for much of the game.

The turning point arrived after halftime with Merino’s introduction. He equalized in the 61st minute following a clever assist from Dani Olmo, then clinched the victory in the 88th minute, set up by Martin Zubimendi. Croatia’s resistance weakened late on after Perisic received a second yellow card, allowing Spain’s patience and stronger bench depth to shine through for their fourth straight Group 3 win.

Goalkeeper & Defence

  • Unai Simon - 7/10: Stayed composed, made four saves, and helped build play from the back despite limited shot-stopping opportunities. Could not prevent Perisic’s precise opener.
  • Aymeric Laporte - 7/10: Played a key role in maintaining Spain’s high defensive line, winning duels and supporting possession recycling effectively.
  • Marc Cucurella - 6/10: Worked hard down the left but his final balls lacked precision. Defensively solid against a compact Croatian defense.
  • Pau Cubarsi - 6/10: Showed maturity under pressure and contributed with forward passing to break Croatia’s tight block.
  • Marc Pubill - 6/10: Delivered width on the right and kept an eye on Perisic’s counter-attacking threat during the first half.

Midfield

  • Rodri - 7/10: Commanded the midfield with intelligent distribution before being replaced to add more attacking intent.
  • Pedri - 7/10: Operated well between the lines, keeping control even as the crowd grew louder; withdrawn late in the game.
  • Dani Olmo - 7/10: Main creative force who provided the assist for Merino’s equalizer, troubling Croatian defenders consistently.

Attack

  • Alex Baena - 5/10: Had little impact in the first half and was replaced at halftime, which changed the course of the match.
  • Mikel Oyarzabal - 6/10: Worked hard up front but found chances limited due to Croatia’s defensive resilience.
  • Lamine Yamal - 7/10: Faced intense marking but showed glimpses of quality before making way for a tactical change.

Substitutes & Manager

  • Mikel Merino - 9/10: Came on at half-time and turned the game around with two crucial goals that secured the win.
  • Martin Zubimendi - 7/10: Brought energy and discipline, assisting the winning goal late on.
  • Fermin Lopez - 6/10: Helped maintain momentum after replacing Rodri.
  • Victor Munoz - 5/10: Entered late and received a yellow card during added time.
  • Yeremy Pino - N/A: Made a brief appearance near the end to help close out the match.
  • Luis de la Fuente - 9/10: His decision to bring Merino on at halftime was pivotal, directly leading to the comeback and victory.

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