Prague, Skopje, Tirana and Prešov provide four simultaneous Nations League settings on Saturday night, with Czechia’s meeting with Croatia at the Fortuna Arena carrying the weight of two new managerial chapters. Kick-off across all four fixtures is set for 20:45.
Santi Denia takes charge of Czechia for the first time, becoming the country’s first foreign national-team coach. Across from him, Slaven Bilić begins a second spell with Croatia, 14 years after the end of a first tenure in which he oversaw 65 matches and lost only eight.
Quick facts
- Croatia are unbeaten in five previous games against Czechia, recording two victories and three draws.
- North Macedonia and Switzerland are meeting in UEFA competition for the first time.
- Albania lead Belarus by three wins to two in their head-to-head record, with two draws.
- Slovakia have won two of their three encounters with Moldova, who are seeking to end a 15-match winless sequence.
- Switzerland arrive after reaching the quarter-finals of the most recent World Cup, while North Macedonia won five of six matches to rise from Nations League C.
Croatia won 5-1 in Zagreb during the last World Cup qualifying campaign before the sides drew 0-0 in Prague. Denia said his priority was for Czechia to become a better collective, while acknowledging the difficulty of facing Croatia. Bilić said he was fully motivated by his return and had been pleased by the atmosphere and commitment in his opening sessions.
The hosts have been hit by several withdrawals, including David Zima. Croatia are without Martin Erlić and Josip Juranović, while Luka Modrić and Martin Baturina have dealt with health concerns in recent days.
At the National Arena Todor Proeski, Switzerland begin life after relegation from League A without Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria, Aurèle Amenda or Breel Embolo. Murat Yakin’s side made the quicker start in Skopje: Dan Ndoye tested Stole Dimitrievski from an angle, then Ricardo Rodríguez sent a loose ball from a corner over the bar.
North Macedonia have selected Dimitrievski in goal, with Andrej Stojchevski, Gjoko Zajkov, Visar Musliu, Bojan Ilievski, Matej Gashtarov, Enis Bardhi, Ezgjan Alioski, Eljif Elmas, Bojan Miovski and Elmin Rastoder. Switzerland start Gregor Kobel, Zachary Athekame, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Rodríguez, Remo Freuler, Ardon Jashari, Djibril Sow, Fabian Rieder, Zeki Amdouni and Ndoye.
In Tirana, Albania are trying to halt a five-game losing run against a Belarus side arriving in better form. Arbër Hoxha fired wide in the early exchanges before Evgeni Malashevich replied with an attempt from outside the area.
Albania are missing injured trio Qazim Laçi, Adrion Pajaziti and Thomas Strakosha. Etrit Berisha starts behind Elseid Hysaj, Ardian Ismajli, Berat Djimsiti and Stavros Pilios, with Taulant Seferi, Kristjan Asllani, Ylber Ramadani, Ernest Muçi, Rey Manaj and Hoxha completing the side.
Belarus field Fedor Lapoukhov, Vladislav Kalinin, Zakhar Volkov, Aleksei Tikhomirov, Kirill Pechenin, Maks Ebong, Aleksandr Selyava, Valeri Gromyko, Artem Kontsevoi, German Barkovski and Malashevich.
Prešov hosts Slovakia’s new start under Vladimír Weiss against a Moldova team promoted from League D. Slovakia are without Matúš Bero because of a stress fracture in his foot, while Moldova have lost Virgiliu Postolachi from the squad.
Dominik Greif starts for Slovakia, protected by Martin Valjent, Milan Škriniar, Adam Obert and Dávid Hancko. Tomáš Rigo, Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda, Leo Sauer, David Strelec and Lukáš Haraslín make up the remaining starters.
Moldova’s listed XI is Emil Tîmbur, Mihail Gherasimencov, Vladyslav Baboglo, Oleg Reabciuk, Nicky Clecenco, Serafim Cojocari, Ștefan Bodișteanu, Vadim Rață, Danila Forov, Postolachi and Dmitri Mandrîcenco.
For the main event in Prague, Czechia name Lukáš Horníček, Vladimír Coufal, Robin Hranáč, Štěpán Chaloupek, Jiří Sláma, Lukáš Červ, Pavel Šulc, Michal Sadílek, Adam Karabec, Adam Hložek and Lukáš Ambros. Antonín Kinský, Matěj Kovář, Ondřej Krišfalusi, Ondřej Zmrzlý, Martin Šubert, Václav Sejk, Martin Vitík, Pavel Bucha, Matěj Radosta, Roman Macek, Alex Král and Michal Šašek are among the substitutes.
Croatia begin with Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Luka Vušković, Joško Gvardiol, Ivan Perišić, Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Sučić, Petar Sučić, Franjo Ivanović and Igor Matanović. Their bench includes Ivor Pandur, Dominik Kotarski, Ivan Smolčić, Josip Šutalo, Lovro Majer, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Nikola Vlašić, Mario Pašalić, Dion Beljo, Marco Pašalić and Josip Mišić.
Italian referee Simone Sozza handles Czechia against Croatia, with Valerio Marini assigned to VAR. Daniel Schlager of Germany takes North Macedonia versus Switzerland, assisted by VAR official Benjamin Brand; England’s Sam Barrott is in charge in Tirana, while Juxhin Xhaja referees Slovakia against Moldova.
