Croatia loses 2-1 to Spain in UEFA Nations League match

Croatia lost 2-1 to Spain in a UEFA Nations League match held at Poljud. Ivan Perišić opened the scoring for Croatia in the 17th minute, but Spain secured a comeback victory with goals from Mikel Merino in the 61st and 88th minutes.

The match turned in the 81st minute when Perišić received a second yellow card, leaving Croatia to finish the game with ten men. Following the match, striker Igor Matanović expressed regret over a missed opportunity to make the score 2-0 but noted that the team showed a different level of spirit and heart compared to their recent heavy defeat against England.

Public reaction in Zagreb reflected mixed emotions. While some fans were disappointed by the loss, many noted the significant improvement in performance compared to Croatia's previous 7-0 loss to England. Some supporters also criticized the officiating, specifically regarding Perišić's dismissal and the validity of Spain's goals.