Spain appeared to be heading for defeat after centre back Pablo Ibanez had nodded the ball into his own net when Niko Kranjcar had floated a seemingly innocuous ball into the area in the 14th minute.

But Pernia, making his first appearance in a Spain shirt after being called up to replace the injured Asier del Horno, made it 1-1 when his miscued free kick made its way through a forest of defenders and crept past keeper Stipe Pletikosa at the far post just after the hour.

Torres looked to have spurned the chance to win the match for Spain 15 minutes from time, when he had a weakly struck penalty saved by Pletikosa, but he atoned for his error when he scored a fine individual goal in stoppage time.

The Atletico Madrid striker cut his way past two defenders and slotted the ball past Pletikosa and inside the post to give his side the win and stretch their unbeaten record to 22 matches.

Spain begin their campaign in Group H against Ukraine in Leipzig on June 14 and then face Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Croatia, who finished third in their inaugural World Cup in 1998 but went out in the first round four years ago in South Korea and Japan, face a baptism of fire in Group F.

They meet five-times world champions and tournament favourites Brazil in their opening match in Berlin on June 13 before going on to face Japan and Australia.