Mikel Merino scores twice as Spain win in Croatia

The Spain midfielder changed the match after coming on at half-time, scoring twice in a reported comeback against Croatia.

SportsOctober 6, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

Mikel Merino is a Spanish footballer who plays in midfield or as a striker for Arsenal and Spain ³.
Reports on October 6, 2026, say he came on at half-time against Croatia and scored twice, in the 61st and 88th minutes ¹².
The reports describe his goals as helping Spain come from behind and secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals ¹².
For a casual reader, the immediate story is a substitute making a decisive difference; the sources do not establish what this means for Merino’s longer-term role.

Who is Mikel Merino?

Mikel Merino Zazón is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder or striker for Arsenal and Spain’s national team ³.

In this match, his role was especially noticeable because he did not start. He came on for Álex Baena at half-time, according to the match reports ¹².

What happened in Spain’s match against Croatia?

Spain fell behind to a first-half goal by Ivan Perišić, then struggled to find its rhythm, according to the reports ¹². Merino entered after the break and scored the equaliser in the 61st minute. He scored again in the 88th minute to complete the comeback ¹.

The second goal came after Martín Zubimendi found Merino in the penalty area, according to MARCA ¹. The other report also credits Zubimendi with setting up the late chance ².

Why are people talking about Merino now?

The immediate reason is the two-goal performance in a match Spain had been losing. The reports frame Merino’s entrance as a turning point: his first goal levelled the score, and his later strike put Spain ahead ¹².

MARCA describes him as a dependable substitute for Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. That is the outlet’s assessment, not a formal measure of his performance across every match ¹. The available reporting supports the point that he made a major impact in this particular game.

What does this mean for Spain’s Nations League campaign?

The reports say Spain’s win secured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals and kept the team top of Group 3 ². In plain terms, Spain had advanced to the next round, according to the match coverage.

The available sources do not give the full final score, the complete group table, or the next-round schedule. Those details should be checked against an official competition or team source if they are needed.

Does this mean Merino will start Spain’s next match?

Not necessarily. Scoring twice is a strong performance in this match, but it does not by itself confirm whether Merino will start next time. The supplied reports do not say what Spain’s next team selection will be.

Coach Luis de la Fuente is quoted by MARCA saying that players who start and those who come on later are both important, and that Merino can contribute when he enters ¹. That explains the coach’s approach in general, but it is not a promise about future line-ups.

What we don't know yet

The full final score is not stated in the supplied source extracts.
The reports do not provide Spain’s next-round opponent or match date.
It is not yet known from these sources whether Merino will start Spain’s next match.
The sources do not establish whether this performance will change Merino’s longer-term role for Arsenal or Spain.

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Questions people ask

How many goals did Mikel Merino score against Croatia?

He scored twice, with goals reported in the 61st and 88th minutes ¹. The two goals helped Spain come from behind, according to the match reports ¹².

Did Mikel Merino start against Croatia?

No. The reports say he came on at half-time, replacing Álex Baena ¹². He scored both of Spain’s reported goals after entering the match.

What team does Mikel Merino play for?

Merino plays for Arsenal and Spain’s national team, according to the supplied player profile ³. He is described as a midfielder or striker ³.

Did Spain qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals?

The match report says Spain secured qualification for the quarter-finals after its comeback win over Croatia ². It also says Spain stayed top of Group 3 ².

Why did Merino come on as a substitute?

The reports say Merino replaced Álex Baena at half-time, but they do not give a detailed explanation of the coaching decision ¹². De la Fuente told MARCA that players can be important whether they start or enter later ¹.

Sources

San Merino al rescate — MARCA, 2026-10-06
Merino regala una exhibición en Croacia: doblete con un golazo para echarse las manos a la cabeza — okdiario.com, 2026-10-06
Mikel Merino — Wikipedia

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