Merino Double Stuns Croatia as Spain Fight Back 2-1

Spain broke Croatian hearts with a gritty 2-1 comeback victory in the UEFA Nations League League A – Group 4, Mikel Merino scoring twice to overturn Ivan Perišić’s early strike after Croatia played the final 11 minutes with 10 men.

Croatia’s Dream Start Unravels

Ivan Perišić sent the Zagreb crowd into raptures after 17 minutes, latching onto a loose ball to rifle Croatia into the lead against the run of play. The veteran winger’s celebration turned to regret five minutes later as he collected a needless yellow for dissent – a reckless moment that would haunt him.

Slaven Bilić’s side rode their luck through Spain’s 72% first-half possession, living on sharp counterattacks while Modrić and Kovačić tried to wrestle control. Perišić’s red card on 79 minutes for a second yellow changed everything – a lazy challenge on Pedri leaving Croatia clinging on.

Spain’s Patient Domination Pays Off

La Roja had already begun turning the screw. Merino’s 61st-minute equaliser – a deft near-post flick from Dani Olmo’s cross – was coming, with Croatia’s 28% possession exposing exhausted legs. The Real Sociedad midfielder completed the turnaround on 88 minutes, arriving late to meet Martín Zubimendi’s cutback before wheeling away in ecstasy.

Croatia’s defensive heroics – 4 blocked shots, 10 clearances – crumbled when they needed cool heads most. Spain’s brutal efficiency told: 3 shots on target, 2 goals. Even Luka Modrić’s late withdrawal couldn’t spark a response, the captain left chewing his shirt collar on the bench as the clock ran out.

What This Means for Both Nations

For Croatia, the bitter taste of collapse – leading for 44 minutes yet leaving with nothing – raises questions about their ability to close games against elite opposition. Spain’s new-generation midfield of Pedri, Merino and Zubimendi announced itself emphatically, the victory putting them top of Group 4.

The rematch in November now looms as a redemption arc for Croatia’s veterans – and a chance for Spain to prove this comeback wasn’t just about the red card. On this evidence, La Roja’s blend of control and ruthlessness makes them Nations League contenders.