Seville’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán will host a meeting of the early pacesetters in Nations League A Group 3 on Tuesday, when Spain welcome Croatia with top spot already at stake. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:45 Brasília time on 29 September, with both sides arriving on three points after opening-week victories.
Spain begin the evening with a narrow advantage over the Croatians: the teams are level on points and goal difference, but Luis de la Fuente’s side have scored more goals. The hosts opened their campaign by defeating England 3-2 in a match that swung through several changes of momentum, a result that also maintained the national team’s long unbeaten sequence.
That run now stands at 39 matches without defeat, stretching back to the encounter with Brazil in 2024. Avoiding defeat in Andalusia would take Spain to 40 games unbeaten, adding another landmark to the period in which they have established themselves as world champions.
Croatia travel west after a 2-1 away win over the Czech Republic, and Slaven Bilic’s team know that victory in Seville would put them clear at the summit of the section. Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol provide the familiar backbone of a side that has often made itself difficult company for Europe’s leading nations.
Spain reshuffle their squad
De la Fuente has lost Barcelona defender Eric García, who withdrew with a knee injury. Atlético Madrid’s Robin Le Normand has been called into the squad as his replacement. Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García and Tottenham Hotspur full-back Pedro Porro are also absent from the group originally selected for the international window.
Spain are expected to field Unai Simón in goal, behind a defence of Pubill, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella. Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo are set to form the midfield, with Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the attack.
Croatia’s likely side features Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Gvardiol and Ivan Perisic; Modric, Kovacic, Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic and Mario Pasalic; with Ante Budimir furthest forward.
The match will be shown live in Brazil on Sportv.
