UEFA Nations League

FULL TIME
Croatia WLWLL 1
–
Spain WWWWW 2
  • Ivan Perisic 17'
  • Mikel Merino 61'
  • Mikel Merino 88'
Stadion Poljud · 32,690 att.

Match Report

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Spain rally to beat Croatia, unbeaten run up to 43 games

Spain preserved a 2½-year unbeaten streak by rallying to beat Croatia 2-1 thanks to a clutch second-half double from super-sub Mikel Merino on Tuesday in Split.

Full story at ESPN →

Last five matches

DateOppResultCompetition
10/3/26 vs England L 0-7 UEFA Nations League
9/29/26 @ Spain L 1-4 UEFA Nations League
9/26/26 @ Czechia W 2-1 UEFA Nations League
7/2/26 @ Portugal L 1-2 FIFA World Cup
6/27/26 vs Ghana W 2-1 FIFA World Cup
Full Schedule

Play by Play

Team Stats

ESP CRO
10
Fouls
12
2
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
1
2
Offsides
0
6
Corner Kicks
3
4
Saves
1
72.1
Possession
27.9
10
SHOTS
10
3
ON GOAL
5
30
On Target %
50
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
0
697
Accurate Passes
234
778
Passes
298
90
Pass Completion %
80
4
Accurate Crosses
2
20
Crosses
7
20
Cross %
30
27
Long Balls
47
16
Accurate Long Balls
20
60
Long Balls %
40
4
Blocked Shots
2
8
Effective Tackles
5
10
Tackles
7
80
Tackle %
70
5
Interceptions
11
11
Effective Clearances
21
11
Clearances
21

Highlights

01:00 Hislop: International break has been 'too much' for players Watch on ESPN

Head to Head

ESP leads series 4-1

CRO Last 5 matchups ESP
  1. 3 2018-19 UEFA Nations League FT 2018-11-15 @ CRO 2
  2. 3 2020 European Championship AET 2021-06-28 @ CRO 5
  3. 0 2022-23 UEFA Nations League FT-Pens 2023-06-18 @ CRO 0
  4. 0 2024 European Championship FT 2024-06-15 @ ESP 3
  5. 1 2026-27 UEFA Nations League FT 2026-09-29 @ ESP 4

Lineups

Confirmed

CRO · 4-5-1

  1. Dominik LivakovicG11
  2. Luka VuskovicCD-L5
  3. Josip SutaloCD-R6
  4. Josko GvardiolLB4
  5. Josip StanisicRB211
  6. Mateo KovacicCM-L81
  7. Luka ModricCM-R10
  8. Kristijan JakicAM181
  9. Ivan PerisicLM14213
  10. Nikola VlasicRM131
  11. Igor MatanovicF2023

Substitutes

  1. Marin PongracicSUB3
  2. Josip MisicSUB22
  3. Martin BaturinaSUB16
  4. Mario PasalicSUB15
  5. Marco PasalicSUB19
  6. Ante BudimirSUB11
  7. Andrej KramaricSUB9
  8. Ivor PandurSUB12
  9. Petar SucicSUB17
  10. Luka SucicSUB21
  11. Dion Drena BeljoSUB7
  12. Dominik KotarskiSUB23

ESP · 4-3-3

  1. Unai SimónG234
  2. Aymeric LaporteCD-L14
  3. Pau CubarsíCD-R5
  4. Marc CucurellaLB22
  5. Marc PubillRB12
  6. RodriCM16
  7. PedriLM20
  8. Dani OlmoRM1012
  9. Mikel OyarzabalF2111
  10. Álex BaenaLF151
  11. Lamine YamalRF193

Substitutes

  1. Roberto FernándezSUB8
  2. Martín ZubimendiSUB181
  3. Josep MartínezSUB13
  4. Mikel MerinoSUB6222
  5. Fermín LópezSUB9
  6. David RayaSUB1
  7. Robin Le NormandSUB3
  8. Iván FresnedaSUB4
  9. Víctor MuñozSUB71
  10. Fran GarcíaSUB17
  11. Dean HuijsenSUB2
  12. Yéremy PinoSUB11

UEFA Nations League News

All news
ESPN Aaditya Narayan Harry Kane stats: His most eye-opening England cap, goal records Breaking down the remarkable stats and records that Harry Kane has racked up for England. News ESPN News Services Spain's De la Fuente slams 'lying' over Lamine Yamal's 'special privileges' Spain coach Luis de la Fuente defended Lamine Yamal against suggestions of preferential treatment after the forward was allowed to join the national team late. News ESPN News Services Kylian Mbappé (hamstring) to miss France clash with Italy Kylian Mbappé will miss France's UEFA Nations League clash with Italy after sitting out training on Wednesday, coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed. ESPN Tom Hamilton Why Cole Palmer is on notice in Tuchel's new-look England: 'The competition is on' ESPN's Tom Hamilton examines why Cole Palmer faces a fight for his England place as Thomas Tuchel embraces a new generation of talent.