The Croatian national team will play the second round of Group 3 in the elite group of the League of Nations against Spain in Seville. The match starts at 20:45, with live coverage on Nova TV, starting with a preview at 8pm.
Coach Slaven Bilić has prepared a significantly changed line-up for this match. Josip Šutalo and Marin Pongračić will play in the central defensive partnership, while Joško Gvardiol moves to the left wing. Ivan Smolčić starts on the right, replacing the injured Josip Stanišić, while Luka Vušković is moved to the bench.
In midfield, Josip Mišić starts in place of Luka Modrić, alongside Mateo Kovačić and Petar Sučić. On the flanks are Ivan Perišić and Marco Pašalić, while Dion Dren Aljo starts in attack. The potential line-up for Croatia is as follows: Livaković - Smo, Šutalo, Pongračić, Gvardiol - Mišić, Kovačić, Pašalić, Sučić, Perišić, Beljo.
Bilić cannot count on Josip Stanišić, Lovro Majer, Igor Matanović and Petar Musa for this match. Stanišić has been ruled out due to a viral infection, while the other three have been left out of the squad. Musa has scored 18 goals in 23 matches this season in MLS, with 18 assists, and on the list of top scorers is only Leo Messi with 21 goals.
Croatia beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the first round, while the current world and European champions, Spain, beat England 3-2 away. Spain are the favourites in the group and in the competition as a whole, and on this ground have never lost. Reminder: Spain beat Croatia in the final of the 2023 League of Nations.
Spain's potential line-up: Simón - Pubill, Cubarsí, Huijsen, Cucarella - Zubimendi, Ruiz, López - Yamal, Oyarzabal, Baena. De la Fuente and player Fabian Ruiz expressed respect ahead of the match with Croatia.
The main referee is Dutchman Serdar Gözübüyük (40), with his compatriots Patrick Inia and Rogier Honig assisting. The fourth official is Jeroen Manschot, while in the VAR room are Pol van Boekel and Clay Ruperti.
