Spain vs Croatia Preview: Nations League Clash

Spain is gearing up for an exciting match against Croatia in the Nations League, scheduled for September 30, 2026. The Spanish national team, known as La Roja, is currently one of the toughest teams to beat, having recently demonstrated their championship caliber in their opening UEFA Nations League match against England.

In their last encounter, Spain triumphed over England with a score of 3-2, showcasing their resilience and tactical prowess. The match saw Lamine Yamal scoring just two minutes in, followed by goals from Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal, helping Spain secure their fourth win in six encounters against England. Spain has not lost a competitive international match since March 2024, when they fell to Colombia in a friendly.

Historically, Spain has a strong record against Croatia, winning 7 out of their last 10 official meetings, including three consecutive victories. This gives the Spanish side a significant confidence boost heading into the match.

On the other hand, Croatia is under the guidance of Slaven Bilic, who has returned to lead the team after a 14-year hiatus. Bilic's second tenure began with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, where veteran Luka Modric played a pivotal role. However, Croatia has struggled against Spain in recent years, with their last victory over La Roja dating back to November 2018.

In terms of team news, Spain will be without goalkeeper Joan Garcia and defender Pedro Porro due to injuries, while Robin Le Normand has been called up to replace Eric Garcia. Croatia is also facing challenges with injuries, losing Josip Juranovic and Martin Erlic, but they have brought in replacements to bolster their squad.

The expected lineups for the match are as follows:

• Spain: Simon, Pubill, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal.
• Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, L. Sucic, P. Sucic, Mario Pasalic, Budimir.

This highly anticipated match will kick off at 1:45 AM (Vietnam time) on September 30, and fans are eager to see if Croatia can overcome their recent struggles against a formidable Spanish side.