Rabat – After coming from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 on Tuesday, Spain national team became the second ever team to win four consecutive games after winning the World Cup alongside Argentina in 2022. Luis De La Fuente’s team have not been defeated since losing to Colombia in a friendly in 2024.
Spain’s long run was endangered in the first half against Croatia that started aggressively after losing 7-0 to England at the weekend. Ivan Perišić, who was later on sent off, gave Croatia the lead. But the substitute Mikel Merino dramatically turned the game to Spain’s favour with two goals in the 61st and the 89th minutes to resume his remarkable performance with the national team.
Four of Merino’s last five goals to Spain have come in the 88th minute or later, including the late winners against Portugal and Belgium at the World Cup.
De La Fuente hailed Merino’s exceptional performance after the game, saying he can play for any club or any national team in the world. “We have the best players in the world in their positions and Mikel is in that category,” said De La Fuente at the post-match press conference, biting back at the criticism he had faced months earlier for including the player in his World Cup squad.
Meanwhile Merino was also happy to contribute to the victories of the national team. “I am really happy to be able to help out the team once again in another game where I’ve had to come off the bench,” the player said.
De La Fuente’s squad are willing to continue their already historic unbeaten run. “ World champions have no intention of slowing down…They are insatiable; they always want more. They don’t conform with anything,” beamed the visibly elated coach.
With 4 wins out of their four latest games, La Roja closed the September/October international window in the best possible way, guaranteeing a spot in the quarter finals of the upcoming UEFA nations league.
