Spain and Croatia go face each other for Split tonight for di fourth round of di UEFA Nations League group stage, as La Roja eye qualification for di quarter-finals.
Spain sit top of Group 3 for League A with nine points from three wins. England dey follow with six points, Croatia get three, while Czech Republic dey bottom with no point. A win for Spain tonight go send dem through to di Nations League quarter-finals. Croatia for dia own side must beat di world champions to keep dia hope alive.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente don name him side to face Croatia on Tuesday evening. Having rotated heavily in di previous match against Czech Republic, De la Fuente don recall most of him key men. Unai Simón, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Oyarzabal all return, along with Marc Pubill at right-back, who started against England and Croatia for di first leg.
Spain lineup na Unai Simón, Pubill, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Croatia coach Slaven Bilić also confirm him starting XI to face Spain. Croatia lineup na Dominik Livaković, Stanišić, Joško Gvardiol, Vušković, Šutalo, Kovačić, Luka Modrić, Nikola Vlašić, Ivan Perišić, Kristijan Jakić and Matanović.
BBC live update show say first half don begin. Corner come for Croatia, Marc Pubill concede am. Ivan Perišić right footed shot from di left side of di box blocked. Lineups been announced and players been dey warm up.
Spain dey seek to make am four victories from four in di UEFA Nations League as dem close di current international window by visiting Croatia on Tuesday. Di world champion don dey typically excellent in Group 3 of League A, kicking things off with entertaining 3-2 win over England. Things dey much more emphatic in triumphs over Croatia and Czechia, however, which extend La Roja winning streak to 10 matches in all competitions.
Having thrashed Croatia 4-1 in di reverse fixture, Spain travel to Split with expectation of securing back-to-back wins. Lamine Yamal particularly impressive in di reverse fixture, scoring twice and providing one assist to continue him stellar form.
Slaven Bilić return to di Croatia hot seat don be pretty disastrous to date. Following narrow win over Czechia and di defeat to Spain, di 58-year-old oversee di nation worst-ever loss during embarrassing 7-0 defeat to England on home soil. Massive improvements needed to avoid yet more humiliation against La Roja.
This match na repeat of di 2022-23 Nations League final, which Spain win on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless action. Rewind a year or two and this would have been very different fixture. But Croatia rapid decline and dismal start under Bilić mean say Spain should run out handsome winners yet again.
La Roja don dey in breathless attacking form, scoring three or more in each of dia Nations League matches to date. While dem never keep clean sheet, inspired attacking unit led by Barcelona superstar Yamal don prove too much for opponents. Meanwhile, Croatia defense don dey utterly atrocious this international break, allowing 12 goals across three matches. One would expect di 2018 World Cup runner-up to take more cautious approach on Tuesday to help steady di ship, but Spain fearsome forwards go dey lick dia lips regardless.
Having named arguably him strongest possible lineup against England, Bilić no get much room to maneuver for Spain visit. Two changes fit come in defense, however, with Joško Gvardiol shifting to left back and Josip Šutalo joining Luka Vuškovic at center half. Josip Stanišic fit be replaced at right back by Ivan Smolčić. After being overrun in midfield against England, Luka Modrić fit be sacrificed for greater defensive security, with Mateo Kovačić dropping into double pivot with Josip Mišić. Igor Matanović fit come into attack to lead di line, replacing FC Dallas striker Petar Musa.
Croatia predicted lineup against Spain for 4-2-3-1 na Livaković; Smolčić, Vušković, Šutalo, Gvardiol; Mišić, Kovačić; Vlašić, P. Sučić, Baturina; Matanović.
Luis de la Fuente don get several selection headaches by recent withdrawals. Nico Williams, Ferran Torres and Álex Grimaldo all leave di camp, but that don offer opportunities to others. For example, Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández lead di line against Czechia in place of Ferran, although Mikel Oyarzabal expected to return for di game with Croatia. Álex Baena should continue at left wing following Williams departure, while Martín Zubimendi fit come into midfield to offer Rodri well-earned rest.
There fit be multiple changes in defense. Pau Cubarsí go return after being rested against Czechia, while Marc Cucurella and Marc Pubill should make comebacks in di fullback positions. Unai Simón should return between di posts after David Raya earn rare start last time out.
Spain predicted lineup against Croatia for 4-2-3-1 na Simón; Pubill, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Baena; Oyarzabal.
