Spain v Croatia: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch

UEFA Nations League,
League A-2

Spain
esp

09/29/2026
7:45 p.m

Croatia
CRO

Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium

Serdar Gozubuyuk

Spain-Croatia League of Nations preview

Thirty-five years after leaving Sevilla as a player, the Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente returns this Tuesday to visit the Ramon Sánchez-Pizjuan stadium to revisit the place where the World Cup winner took his first steps as a coach.

“Coming to Seville always gives me a special thrill,” said De la Fuente, whose host Croatia three days after beating England 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.

“I’ve spent a lot of time here. I’d tell him Luis de la Font who 25 years ago coached the Sevilla youth team, ‘Don’t give up, keep insisting, be consistent’. That’s what 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 reinforcing our ideals.

“We are a solid, strong team that controls the game. But of course Croatia can compete with us and have a chance. We know them very well from our matches over the years.”

After 14 years away, Slaven Bilic’s second spell in charge of the visitors began with a 2-1 win in the Czech Republic on the same night as Spain’s winning start.

“This is (of Spain) first home game after winning the World Cup,” Bilic said. “I have no doubt it will be special, but it certainly won’t be an exhibition game.

“From our side, we will not ‘celebrate’ too much. 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 the highest level. We don’t need a miracle, we need belief and quality.”

Last table of the UEFA Nations League

League of Nations team news Spain-Croatia

Eric Garcia has withdrawn from the Spain squad after suffering a minor injury during the warm-up before the win in England.

Marc Pubill replaced Garcia at right-back and Robin Le Normand has returned to the squad for the first time since October 2025 as a substitute for the Barcelona player in La Roja’s squad.

Inter Milan’s Josep Martinez previously replaced Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who has a minor knee problem, and Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen replaces Marcos Llorent after the defender’s international withdrawal.

Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández has received his first call-up but was not part of the day’s call-up against the Tres Lleons.

Center Martin Erlic (foot) and wide Josip Juranovic (hamstring) withdrew from Croatia’s 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 make his 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.

Milan’s Modric scored the opening goal in the victory in the Czech Republic, where Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic scored the decisive goal.

Scheduled lineups for Spain-Croatia

Spain: Unai Simon, Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal

Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic, Franjo Ivanovic, Ante Budimir

Spain-Croatia statistics and League of Nations form

• The last meeting between these teams ended in a 3-0 win for Spain in Berlin during the EURO 2024 group stage, but the previous two editions ended in draws after 90 minutes.
• After a 0-0 draw in the Nations League final in Rotterdam in 2023, Spain won 5-4. That came two years after winning 5-3 after extra time in the last 16 of EURO 2020 in Copenhagen.
• Seven of the 11 editions have seen wins in Spain, with the last of Croatia’s three triumphs coming in a 3-2 win at Maksimir in Liga A in November 2018.
• Spain are unbeaten in regulation time in their last 39 matches (W30, D9) since losing 1-0 to Colombia in a friendly in London on 22 March 2024.
• This is their longest unbeaten streak and breaks the European nation’s record of 37 matches, set by Italy between October 2018 and September 2021.
• La Roja are unbeaten in their last eight Nations League group games away from home (W5 D3), while 39 goals have been scored in their last eight in all competitions.
• Bilic started Croatia’s only win in Spain, in the first meeting between the two sides, when his side won 2-0 in a friendly in Valencia in March 1994.
• Since then, Spain have beaten Croatia 3-1 in Sevilla in May 1999 and 6-0 in Elche in the Nations League in September 2018.
• Croatia are on a five-match unbeaten run away from Croatia (W4), but have lost three of their last five away from Croatia (W2), scoring in each of the last seven such matches.
• His win in the Czech Republic ended a five-match (3L) winless run away from Croatia in the Nations League and produced his first goal in such a game in more than four hours and 55 minutes of football.

Where to watch Spain-Croatia: Nations League TV channel, live streaming online

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live UK coverage on Amazon Prime PPVwhich charges £2.49 for the game.

For worldwide coverage, visit UEFA List of international broadcasters of the League of Nations.

Prediction of the League of Nations Spain-Croatia

Spain

3-2

Croatia

Seven of the nine editions of this match this century have been tied after 90 minutes or decided by a goal. Spain’s performance against England showed they can continue to dominate strong opposition, but they will be hoping Croatia, perhaps boosted by Bilic’s return, will close in on them again.