Perišić scored and was sent off in Split, and Merino’s late double put Spain in the Nations League quarter-finals
Substitute Mikel Merino scored twice in the second half as Spain came from behind to beat ten-man Croatia 2-1 at the Poljud and make it four wins from four.
Oct 7, 2026
Croatia led the world champions until the 61st minute at the Poljud in Split on Tuesday night, back in front of their own fans after a one-match UEFA ban. Ivan Perišić gave them that lead and was later sent off. Mikel Merino, sent on at half-time, scored twice in the second half, and Spain won 2-1 to reach the Nations League quarter-finals with two group games to spare.
Spain have four wins from four and 12 points, and their unbeaten run now stands at 42 matches.
Perišić scores, then goes
The opener came in the 17th minute. Unai Simón saved from Igor Matanović, and Perišić headed the rebound in from close range for his 40th goal for Croatia.
He had already been booked in the first half for a heavy challenge on Pubill. With about ten minutes left and the score 1-1, he tripped Marc Cucurella, got a second yellow and left Croatia with ten men.
Merino off the bench, twice
Luis de la Fuente took off Álex Baena at the break and sent on Merino. In the 61st minute Dani Olmo worked his way past a defender and set him up, and the Arsenal midfielder finished from around ten metres. With two minutes left, Martín Zubimendi found him again and Merino hit a left-footed shot into the top corner.
“We never give up. The players surprise me match after match,” de la Fuente said. He knew what kind of night it would be: “We knew they would play this match carrying the wound of the previous game, when they lost by seven goals.”
Better, and still beaten
That wound was the 7-0 defeat to England in Rijeka on Saturday, played with Croatia’s fans banned. I thought this was a much braver performance, and for a long spell it looked like being enough. It wasn’t, and the red card made the last ten minutes harder than they needed to be.
Croatia are third on three points, six behind England with two games left, and Czechia are bottom with none. Croatia’s next game is at Wembley on 12 November.