Spain Advances to Nations League Quarter-Finals After Comeback Win Over Croatia
Mikel Merino powered Spain to a 2-1 victory over 10-man Croatia, clinching a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with two matches remaining.
Croatia took the lead in the 17th minute. Ivan Perišić scored on the rebound after Unai Simón saved Igor Matanović's attempt, following good play from Mateo Kovačić.
Matanović missed two opportunities to extend Croatia's lead, with Simón making key saves as Spain struggled to respond initially.
Luis de la Fuente introduced Merino for Alex Baena at halftime, a change that proved decisive.
Merino equalized just after the hour mark, finishing calmly into the bottom-left corner from a Dani Olmo pass.
Simón then denied Perišić his second goal with a save after a defensive error by Martín Zubimendi.
Croatia's goalscorer was sent off 11 minutes before full-time, receiving a second yellow card for fouling Marc Cucurella.
With an extra player, Spain secured the win. Merino controlled a lofted pass from Zubimendi, turned, and fired an unstoppable shot past Dominik Livaković.
Spain leads Group 3 with four wins from four, holding a nine-point advantage over third-placed Croatia. They have secured their quarter-final place with two games to spare.
UEFA Nations League Table: League A – Group C
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 9 | WWW |
| 2 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 6 | WWW |
| 3 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 3 | LLL |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 0 | LLL |
Table Key: Positions 1, 2 qualify for Quarter-finals. Positions 3, 4 face possible play-offs.
Upcoming Fixtures
Croatia
- November 12, 2026: England vs. Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
- November 15, 2026: Croatia vs. Czechia (UEFA Nations League)
Spain
- November 12, 2026: Czechia vs. Spain (UEFA Nations League)
- November 15, 2026: Spain vs. England (UEFA Nations League)
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