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World champions Spain will welcome Croatia to Seville on Tuesday for a highly anticipated UEFA Nations League group-stage encounter that pits one of football's brightest young stars against one of its most enduring veterans. The match at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium sees 19-year-old Lamine Yamal come up against 41-year-old Luka Modric, a meeting that encapsulates the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
Both nations enter the fixture on the back of opening victories in Group A3, setting up a contest that could prove decisive in the race for top spot and a place in the knockout stages. Spain staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over England at Wembley, while Croatia secured a 2-1 win away to Czechia in Prague in what was Slaven Bilic's first game back in charge of the national team.
Spain's triumph over England extended their remarkable winning streak to 39 consecutive matches, a record for any European national team. Luis de la Fuente's side, who lifted the 2026 World Cup after defeating a ten-man Argentina 1-0 in extra time, are now targeting a second Nations League title following their success in 2023. They finished as runners-up last year, making their current campaign a chance for redemption on the continental stage.
The host nation's squad is built around a core of technically gifted players who have matured together through Spain's youth system. Yamal, still only a teenager, has become a global icon of the game. His performance against England was electric: he found the net inside two minutes and went on to deliver a man-of-the-match display. The Barcelona winger has carried that form into the domestic season, with seven goals in La Liga placing him joint-second in the scoring charts.
Yamal is not Spain's only attacking threat. His club teammate Dani Olmo contributed a useful assist in the England win and remains a key creative outlet in De la Fuente's system. With Rodri anchoring midfield and Fabian Ruiz alongside him, Spain possess a blend of control and incision that has overwhelmed opponents throughout their historic run. In defence, Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi are expected to shield goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Croatia, meanwhile, arrive in Seville with their own ambitions and a point to prove. Modric, now 41, continues to defy the passage of time. He scored Croatia's opening goal in Prague and remains the focal point of their midfield, still dictating tempo and direction two decades after making his international debut. Coach Bilic was effusive in his praise, describing the captain as a player whose like may never be seen again and expressing gratitude that fans have the privilege of watching him perform at such an age.
Modric is not Croatia's only seasoned campaigner making an impact. Ivan Perisic, another veteran of the national team, set up the winner against Czechia and has contributed two goals and an assist for PSV Eindhoven this season. His combination of experience and delivery from wide areas gives Croatia a dangerous outlet, particularly on the counter-attack, where their well-balanced side can punish Spain if the hosts commit too many players forward.
History slightly favours Spain in this fixture. Across eleven previous meetings, Spain have won six, Croatia three, with two draws. Their most recent encounter came at UEFA Euro 2024, when Spain claimed a comfortable 3-0 group-stage victory courtesy of goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal. That result will give the hosts confidence, though Croatia will be eager to settle the score on Tuesday night.
Recent form also points in Spain's direction. De la Fuente's men have won all of their last five matches, while Croatia's record reads win-loss-win-win-loss across the same period. Yet Croatia's opening victory over Czechia suggests Bilic has already begun to restore the resilience and tactical discipline that have long defined the team's tournament performances.
Both sides face selection challenges. Spain will be without goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is sidelined until early October with a knee injury. Defender Eric Garcia withdrew from the squad after feeling discomfort in his knee during the warm-up before the England game and has been replaced by Robin Le Normand, adding depth to the defensive options. Croatia must cope without left winger Martin Baturina and right-back Josip Juranovic, both ruled out through illness, while centre-back Martin Erlic is unavailable due to injury.
Predicted lineups reflect the contrasting philosophies of the two coaches. Spain are likely to field Unai Simon in goal, with Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella across the back. Rodri and Fabian Ruiz should anchor midfield, with Yamal, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams supporting Ferran Torres in attack. Croatia's probable eleven includes Dominik Livakovic in goal, a defensive line of Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol and Ivan Perisic, with Modric and Mateo Kovacic in midfield and an attacking trio of Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic and Franjo Ivanovic behind Igor Matanovic.
De la Fuente struck a note of caution and respect ahead of the fixture. He highlighted the extraordinary merit of his players' achievements, noting that the statistics illustrate how difficult their run has been, and insisted his team would approach the Croatia match as if it were their last. That mindset has underpinned Spain's success and suggests they will not take their opponent lightly despite the gulf in recent results.
The Nations League itself was created in 2018 to replace meaningless friendlies with competitive matches between Europe's leading nations, introducing promotion and relegation into the international calendar. For both Spain and Croatia, the competition offers a meaningful test against elite opposition and a pathway to silverware, which explains the seriousness with which Tuesday's contest is being treated.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8:45pm local time, which is 18:45 GMT, with Al Jazeera Sport providing build-up and live updates from 15:45 GMT. Supporters in Spain can follow the action on RTVE PLAY, while Croatian viewers can tune in via gol. In the United Kingdom, Prime Video UK holds the rights, and audiences in the United States can watch through FOX Sports, FuboTV and ViX. Viewers in India can access coverage on Sony Sports Network, while beIN SPORTS serves the Middle East and North Africa and DStv Stream covers South Africa.
Beyond the three points at stake, Tuesday's match carries symbolic weight. It offers a snapshot of a sport in transition, with Yamal representing the future and Modric embodying a remarkable past that refuses to fade. Whoever emerges victorious in Seville will take a significant step toward the Nations League knockout rounds, but the occasion itself promises to be a compelling study in footballing generations.
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