Merino leads Spain; England relies on the usual Kane

Fourth win in four games for Luis De La Fuente’s Spain, which—despite an off night—still managed to come from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 on the road in the Nations League.

After falling behind in the 17th minute on a goal by Perisic, the checkered-shirted national team was brought back from behind by a brace from Mikel Merino, who came on in the second half and turned the game around by scoring the 1-1 equalizer in the 61st minute, assisted by Dani Olmo, and the 2-1 winner in the 88th minute, a great left-footed strike off an assist from Zubimendi. Perisic was sent off for a second yellow card with ten minutes remaining in the match.

Spain thus remains in first place with 12 points, three points ahead of England, which, in the other group match, defeated the Czech Republic 3-0. Kane’s two goals (his 91st career goal for the Three Lions) and an own goal by Coufal decided the match played at Wembley.

Thomas Tuchel’s team has thus secured second place with nine points, ahead of Croatia, stuck on 3, and the Czech Republic, still dismally at zero points after four losses in four matches.

For Modric and his teammates, it was a bitter night, coming on the heels of the shocking 7-0 defeat suffered just three days ago in Rijeka at the hands of England. Bilic’s team, already reeling from that historic humiliation, failed to redeem itself in front of its home crowd and now finds itself with just 3 points in the standings, with qualification for the next round now virtually impossible.