Spain overturn deficit against Croatia and snatch qualification ticket to the quarter-finals of the Nations League
The Spanish national team overturned its deficit against its Croatian counterpart to an exciting 2-1 victory, during the match that brought them together at the Poljud stadium as part of the fourth round of the European Nations League, and the "Matador" officially secured its qualification to the quarter-finals.
The match started perfectly for the hosts, after Ivan Perišić managed to give Croatia the lead in the 17th minute, following a counter-attack that ended with a shot saved by goalkeeper Unai Simón, before Perišić followed up the ball with his head and placed it into the net.
The Spanish national team tried to respond quickly, but could not equalize in the first half, so Croatia entered the break leading by one goal to nil.
At the start of the second half, the Spanish national team intensified its pressure in search of a comeback, which was achieved in the 61st minute, when the ball reached Dani Olmo inside the penalty area, before he passed it to Mikel Merino, who unleashed a ground shot that settled in the hosts' net.
Croatia almost regained the lead, after Perišić had a dangerous chance inside the penalty area, but Simón excelled and saved his shot, before Croatia received another blow in the 80th minute with Perišić's expulsion after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Cucurella.
The Spanish national team exploited the numerical disadvantage in its opponent's ranks, and continued its pressure until the final minutes, for the winning goal to come in the 89th minute through Mikel Merino, who received a pass from Martín Zubimendi inside the penalty area, before brilliantly firing it into the net and giving Spain the three points.
With this victory, Spain raised its tally to 12 points at the top of the group, officially booking its place in the quarter-finals of the European Nations League, while the Croatian national team's tally stopped at 3 points in third place.