UEFA Nations League, League A 2SpainESP 29/09/2026 19:45 CroatiaCRO Venue Estadio Ramn Snchez-Pizjun Referee Serdar GozubuyukSpain v Croatia Nations League previewThirty-five years after leaving Sevilla as a player, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente makes another trip to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Tuesday, revisiting the place where the World Cup winner took his first steps as a manager. Coming to Seville always stirs a special emotion in me, said De la Fuente, whose side host Croatia three days after beating England 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.I spent a long time here. Id tell the Luis de la Fuente who coached the Sevilla youth team 25 years ago, Dont give up, keep insisting, stay consistent. Thats what has got me to where I am now.The great strength of [our] team is that we have many systems and many ways of playing, always strengthening our ideals.We are a solid, strong team that controls the game. But of course Croatia can compete with us and they have a chance. We know them very well from our match-ups over the years.After 14 years away, Slaven Bilics second spell in charge of the visitors began with a 2-1 win in Czechia on the same night Spain started victoriously.This is [Spains] first home game after winning the World Cup, said Bilic. I have no doubt it will be special, but it certainly wont be an exhibition game.From our side, we wont make too much of their celebration. There is no greater challenge than playing a competitive game against the best in the world.If you play at the highest level, both individually and as a team, you can compete against Spain. There are things you can exploit. What is certain is that to match them, we have to play at a top, top level. We dont need a miracle; we need belief and quality.UEFA Nations League latest table UEFA Nations League 2026 World League A Group C #TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGDPtsLast 1 1 Spain11003213 W 2 Croatia11002113 W 3 England100123-10 L 4 Czechia100112-10 L Position 1, 2 : Play Offs: Quarter-finals Position 3 : Relegation Playoffs Position 4 : Relegation Spain v Croatia Nations League team newsEric Garcia has withdrawn from Spains squad after suffering a minor injury during the warm-up before their win in England.Marc Pubill deputised for Garcia at right-back and Robin Le Normand has returned to the squad for the first time since October 2025 as the Barcelona players replacement in La Rojas squad.Inter Milans Josep Martinez was an earlier squad replacement for Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who has a minor knee issue, and Real Madrids Dean Huijsen is in for Marcos Llorent following the defenders international retirement.Espanyol forward Roberto Fernandez has received his first call-up but was not part of the matchday squad against the Three Lions.Centre-back Martin Erlic (foot) and wideman Josip Juranovic (hamstring) withdrew from Croatias squad through injury.Winger Martin Baturina is ill and Fiorentina defender Marin Pongracic, PAOK defender Kristijan Jakic and AEK midfielder Lovro Majer have received late call-ups.Ivor Pandur will debut if the Rangers goalkeeper features, while Luka Modric, who turned 41 earlier this month and decided to continue playing international football, could win his 204th cap.Milans Modric scored the opener in the win in Czechia, where Orlando Citys Marco Pasalic netted the decisive goal.Expected line-ups for Spain v CroatiaSpain: Unai Simon, Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel OyarzabalCroatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic, Franjo Ivanovic, Ante BudimirSpain v Croatia stats and Nations League formThe last meeting between these teams ended in a 3-0 Spain win in Berlin during the group stage of EURO 2024, but the previous two editions finished level after 90 minutesAfter a 0-0 draw in the Nations League final in Rotterdam in 2023, Spain won 5-4. That came two years after they won 5-3 after extra time in the last 16 of EURO 2020 in CopenhagenSeven of the 11 editions have produced Spain wins, with the last of Croatias three triumphs coming with a 3-2 victory in Maksimir in League A in November 2018Spain are unbeaten in regular time in their last 39 matches (W30 D9) since a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in a friendly in London on March 22 2024This is their longest-ever undefeated sequence and beats the record for a European nation of 37 matches, set by Italy between October 2018 and September 2021La Roja are unbeaten in their last eight Nations League group matches away from home (W5 D3), while their last eight in all settings have produced 39 goalsBilic started Croatias only win in Spain, coming in the first-ever meeting between the sides when his team prevailed 2-0 in a friendly in Valencia in March 1994Since then, Spain have beaten Croatia 3-1 in Seville in May 1999 and 6-0 in Elche in the Nations League in September 2018Croatia are on a five-match unbeaten away run (W4) but have lost three of their last five games outside of Croatia (W2), scoring in each of their last seven such fixturesTheir win in Czechia ended a five-match winless run (L3) outside of Croatia in the Nations League and produced their first goal in such a game in more than four hours and 55 minutes of football Recent Results : Spain UEFA Nations League England ENG W 2 3 2026-09-26 Spain ESP World Cup France FRA W 0 2 2026-07-14 Spain ESP World Cup Spain ESP W 2 1 2026-07-10 Belgium BEL World Cup Portugal POR W 0 1 2026-07-06 Spain ESP World Cup Spain ESP W 3 0 2026-07-02 Austria AUT Recent Results : Croatia UEFA Nations League Czechia CZE W 1 2 2026-09-26 Croatia CRO World Cup Portugal POR L 2 1 2026-07-03 Croatia CRO World Cup Croatia CRO W 2 1 2026-06-27 Ghana GHA World Cup Panama PAN W 0 1 2026-06-24 Croatia CRO World Cup England ENG L 4 2 2026-06-17 Croatia CRO Where to watch Spain v Croatia: Nations League TV channel, live online streamsKick-off on Tuesday is at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Amazon Prime PPV, which charges �2.49 for the game.For coverage around the world, visit UEFAs Nations League international broadcaster list.Spain v Croatia Nations League prediction Match PredictionSpain 3 2 Croatia Seven of the nine editions of this fixture during this century have been drawn after 90 minutes or decided by a goal. Spain's performance against England showed they can continue to overpower strong opposition, but expect Croatia perhaps buoyed by Bilic's return to push them close again. Topics Croatia National Football Team Luis de la Fuente luka modric Nations League Spain National Football Team UEFA Nations League Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Nations League results: Italy thrash Turkey as France win late in Belgium Ben Miller 28th September, 2026 Turkey vs Italy live: Azzurri score first goals since Mancini return in scintillating start Ben Miller 28th September, 2026 Turkey vs Italy live: Confirmed teams and line ups Ben Miller 28th September, 2026 England squad announcement: Full list for Nations League 2026 Ben Miller 28th September, 2026 Captain Solomon praises Israeli soldiers after Ireland protests Jon Fisher 28th September, 2026 Norway 1-2 Portugal: Report, result, goals as Ramos scores winner after replacing Ronaldo in starting lineup Cian Cheesbrough 27th September, 2026
