Spain’s Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic arrives with Luis de la Fuente managing a squad altered by injury, returns and the growing weight carried by his midfield leaders. For the Czechs, now coached by former Spain youth boss Santi Denia, the task is made tougher by key absences in attack and midfield.
| Year | Match or milestone | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Czech Republic v Netherlands, European Championship group stage | Czech Republic won 3-2 after trailing 2-0 |
| 2004 | Czech Republic v Denmark, European Championship quarter-final | Czech Republic won 3-0 |
| 2004 | Czech Republic v Greece, European Championship semi-final | Greece won 1-0 after extra time |
| 2024 | Santi Denia ended his Spain role | Later appointed Czech Republic coach until 2028 |
Spain have lost Nico Williams during the international window. The Athletic Club winger left camp after reporting discomfort in his left thigh following the Croatia match, and examinations found a moderate muscle injury to the left rectus femoris. His place in the group has not been filled.
Fabián Ruiz is expected to remain central to De la Fuente’s plans after starting Spain’s first two matches of the break. Alongside Rodri, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has become a major point of control for a side whose coach has collected the Nations League, the European Championship and the World Cup.
Ruiz has also spoken of his Ballon d’Or ambition after a season in which he felt important for both PSG and Spain. “Why not?” he said. “Collectively, I have been the player to win the most trophies. I think there have been seven in recent years.” He added that recognition for his work pleased him and that he intended “to finish as high as possible” while allowing himself to dream of the award.
Dean Huijsen, back with Spain after missing the World Cup, completed the match against Croatia at the Sánchez Pizjuán after beginning the Wembley fixture on the bench. Neither the Real Madrid defender nor Pau Cubarsí could prevent Croatia scoring through Beljo.
Denia faces the country that shaped his coaching career
Denia’s appointment gives the Czech Republic bench a distinctly Spanish connection. The Albacete-born coach won European titles at under-17 and under-19 level with Spain before leading the country to Olympic gold. He finished that long spell in 2024, had a brief period at Al Shahania in 2025, and has now agreed a Czech contract running to 2028.
His options are limited for this assignment. Lyon midfielder Šulc, 25, is unavailable after being dismissed against England for a heavy challenge on Anderson in the 25th minute. Karabec is also absent, removing another of the side’s attacking talents, while Schick has departed the Czech camp.
A reminder of Czech tournament pedigree
The Czech Republic’s most vivid modern European Championship run came in 2004 under Karel Brückner. Pavel Nedvěd, the 2003 Ballon d’Or winner and captain, led an adventurous side that also featured the young Petr Čech, Milan Baroš, Tomáš Rosický, Jan Koller, Vladimír Šmicer, Karel Poborský and Tomáš Galásek.
They topped their group after the comeback against the Netherlands, overcame Denmark 3-0 in the last eight, then fell to eventual champions Greece in the semi-finals. Traianos Dellas decided that match in extra time with the then-used silver-goal rule, with Nedvěd carrying an injury.
That generation followed the Czech runners-up of Euro 96 and again stopped just short of the final. Its later World Cup campaign in 2006 ended in the group phase, but several figures became enduring names in the European game. Čech went on to become a Chelsea and English-football great before retiring in 2019, while Baroš and Šmicer were part of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning side in Istanbul in 2005.
Spain’s own camp also carries reminders of the physical demands behind major-tournament success. Víctor Muñoz has described the mixed emotions of winning the World Cup while struggling to reach full fitness, saying it was a dream to win with the group but difficult when his body “could not give any more.” He said the experience taught him to understand his body better, having believed when younger that he could cope with everything.
For Spain, the Czech fixture is therefore not merely another international date: it is a test of depth after Williams’ withdrawal, of midfield authority through Ruiz and Rodri, and of De la Fuente’s ability to maintain the standards established by a trophy-winning cycle.
