Spain lead Croatia 2-1 at half-time in their UEFA Nations League match in Seville, where the world champions are competing on home soil for the first time since Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike stitched a second star on their jersey at MetLife Stadium.
Luis de la Fuente has morphed La Roja into an absolute juggernaut, and its brilliance was put to the test by England in its opening Nations League encounter on Saturday. Spain rallied after Harry Kane spurned the chance to put the hosts 3-1 up from the penalty spot, as substitutes Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal struck to seal a 3-2 victory at Wembley.
Spain eased into the World Cup and discovered its best form when it mattered most, bypassing France with relative ease in the semifinals before grinding out a slender triumph in the showpiece event against a rugged Argentina.
Zlatko Dalić left his post as Croatia’s manager after the World Cup, having spent nine years in the role. Slaven Bilić is back at the helm, having enjoyed a successful six-year tenure at the start of his managerial career. His second stint started with a 2-1 victory over Czechia.
The world champions are without Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García for this break due to a knee complaint, and Pedro Porro was also rendered unavailable after suffering an injury in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa. Porro’s absence means De la Fuente has to adapt the right side of his defense. Atlético Madrid’s Marc Pubill, an impressive center back by trade, played 90 minutes at right back against England.
Pedri’s partnership with Rodri is yet to sparkle at club level after the pair struggled to effectively coalesce at the World Cup, but De la Fuente is set to test out the tandem again.
Luka Modrić is still going strong at 41-years-old, scoring in Saturday’s victory over Czechia. Martin Baturina, who impressed at the World Cup and has started the season superbly with Champions League newbies Como, is dealing with an illness, while defender Martin Erlić is absent through injury.
In the live match, Dion Beljo scored for Croatia with a header from the centre of the box to the top left corner, assisted by Ivan Perišić with a cross. Marc Pubill then restored Spain’s lead with a header from very close range to the high centre of the goal, assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross following a corner.
Fermín López hit the left post with a left footed shot from the right side of the box, assisted by Pau Cubarsí. Fermín López also had a left footed shot from the centre of the box blocked, assisted by Fabián Ruiz, and another left footed shot from outside the box saved in the centre of the goal by Dominik Livaković, assisted by Lamine Yamal. He missed another left footed shot from the centre of the box, assisted by Pau Cubarsí.
Petar Sučić was shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Marc Pubill won a free kick on the right wing after a foul by Ivan Perišić. Unai Simón won a free kick in the defensive half after a foul by Petar Sučić. Mikel Oyarzabal was caught offside for Spain. Croatia made a substitution: Luka Vušković replaced Marin Pongračić. The first half ended Spain 2, Croatia 1, with one minute of added time announced by the fourth official.
