Spain and Croatia face each other in their next UEFA Nations League fixture on Tuesday at the Stadion Puljud as Luis De La Fuente’s men look to continue their winning streak run.
Croatia vs Spain – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 6th October.
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
- Venue: Stadion Puljud, Split.
Croatia team news
Croatia enters their upcoming fixture seeking a vital response under manager Slaven Bilić following a tough defeat against England.
The squad faces several forced adjustments, particularly in defence, as centre-back Martin Erlić remains sidelined with an injury until mid-October, and right-back Josip Juranović is unavailable due to illness.
These absences will force a reshuffle in the backline, where Josip Šutalo is heavily tipped to return to the starting eleven to restore defensive stability.
Further forward, tactical changes are highly expected to inject fresh energy into the side. Midfielder Nikola Vlašić and forward Igor Matanović are both pushing for starting roles after recent rotations.
Crucially, talismanic captain Luka Modrić is expected to return to the starting lineup to provide essential leadership and control in midfield as Croatia looks to steady the ship.
Spain team news
Spain continues their international window in strong form under Luis de la Fuente, though their squad depth is being tested by recent departures.
The most recent blow comes from Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ferran Torres, who withdrew from the camp after sustaining a left ankle injury.
In response, Real Madrid’s 21-year-old forward Carlos Espí has earned his maiden senior call-up to reinforce the attack. Torres joins forward Nico Williams and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo on the sidelines, both of whom departed earlier in the window due to fitness concerns.
Despite these losses, Spain’s deep roster allows for heavy rotation following their comfortable victory over Czechia.
Fresh and rested core regulars, including midfielders Mikel Merino, Pau Cubarsí, and Marc Cucurella, are all expected to return to the starting lineup to maintain Spain’s high-intensity momentum.
Form
Croatia
Croatia is experiencing an extremely turbulent period in their UEFA Nations League campaign. While they managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Czechia to open the window, their form has plummeted drastically since. They suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Spain, which was immediately followed by a historic and devastating 7-0 hammering at the hands of England. Slaven Bilić’s side enters this match desperate to stabilize a collapsing defensive unit.
Spain
World champions Spain are in spectacular, record-breaking form, currently riding a monumental 41-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. They have been entirely flawless in Group A3, securing a perfect nine points from their first three matches. Their recent dominant stretch includes an impressive 3-2 victory over England at Wembley, a comprehensive 4-1 win against Croatia in Seville, and a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Czechia last time out.
Predicted lineups
Croatia: Livakovic; Smolcic, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic; Ivanovic, Mario Pasalic, Vlasic; Matanovic
Spain: Simon; Fresneda, Cubarsi, Huijsen, Cucurella; Lopez, Zubimendi, Pedri; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Munoz
How to watch Croatia vs Spain?
UK viewers can watch the Croatia vs. Spain UEFA Nations League match live on Amazon Prime Video UK.
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