Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Spain preserved their two-and-a-half-year unbeaten streak by rallying to beat Croatia thanks to a second-half double from super sub Mikel Merino, while Harry Kane scored twice on another record-setting match for the England captain.
The marathon batch of Nations League matches ended onTuesday (Wednesday AEDT) with Merino – a star off the bench for Spain in recent years – powering home an 88th-minute strike to complete the world champions’ stirring recovery in a 2-1 win in Split.
The Arsenal midfielder had already equalised in the 61st minute after entering as a halftime substitute, with Spain trailing to a goal by veteran midfielder Ivan Perisic.
Kane’s double in England’s 3-0 win over the Czech Republic at Wembley came on his record-tying 125th appearance for his country. It took him to 91 international goals, extending an outright England record.
“It was the perfect night for me personally and also the team,” said the Bayern Munich striker, who is among the favourites for the Ballon d’Or being awarded on October 26.
Spain and Portugal are the only top-tier teams to win all four group games in the Nations League over the past fortnight and confirmed their place in the quarter-finals in March.
England’s only dropped points in that period came in a loss to Spain.
Time and again, Merino delivers off the bench for his country.
At the recent World Cup, he netted a stoppage-time winner over Portugal in the round of 16 and then in the 88th minute to see off Belgium in the quarter-finals.
Two years earlier, Spain’s progress to the Euro 2024 title included a win over Germany in the quarter-finals sealed by Merino’s 119th-minute winner.
On Tuesday, there he was again, dancing around the corner flag – to mimic his father Miguel’s goalscoring celebration from the early 1990s – after coming to Spain’s rescue against Croatia.
“He understands these moments in a match so well,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “He’s got that gift for goals, and important ones, too.”
Merino’s first goal was a lovely sidefooted finish after receiving a short pass in the area from Dani Olmo. His second was a rising shot that flew into the roof of the net.
Spain are now undefeated in 42 matches dating back to a loss to Colombia in March 2024.
England coach Thomas Tuchel said he was running out of superlatives for Kane, and his teammates think the same.
“There’s not much more you can say that hasn’t already been said,” England star Jude Bellingham said after Kane inspired the team to a third straight win and the brink of the quarter-finals.
“He is the best England player to ever wear the shirt and it is an honour to play with him.”
Kane, who moved level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the list of most caps for England’s men’s team, swept home a close-range finish in the 40th minute, then headed home at a corner in the 57th to push to 91 England goals.
Before that, it was Kane who sent in the cross that Czech right back Vladimir Coufal turned into his own net to put England ahead.
Kane can break the appearance record when England play Croatia on November 12 at Wembley.
Also on maximum points are Switzerland, who beat North Macedonia 3-0 in the second-tier League B in Lucerne.
The Swiss, quarter-finalists at the World Cup, are heading for promotion back to the competition’s top level.
Things look much bleaker for Scotland, though, after a 2-1 home loss to Slovenia that ended with boos from supporters at Hampden Park.
