Croatia have just lost 0-7, while Spain have won 10 matches in a row: prediction for Croatia vs Spain
The UEFA Nations League fourth-round match between Croatia and Spain will take place on October 6 at Stadion Poljud in Split. Croatia head into the encounter after two heavy defeats in a row, while Spain have won all three matches in the current tournament. The first meeting between these teams in late September ended in a convincing 4-1 victory for the Spanish.
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Croatia: 11 goals conceded in two matches
Slaven Bilic's team began the Nations League with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, but their results deteriorated sharply after that. First, Croatia fell to Spain 1-4, then suffered a historic 0-7 defeat to England. As a result, the national team have conceded 11 goals in their last two matches alone, significantly complicating their position in the group.
The thrashing by England was the biggest defeat in the history of the Croatian men's national team, and Croatia had never previously conceded five goals in a home match. In three rounds of the current Nations League, Croatia have already conceded 12 goals, clearly highlighting the scale of their defensive problems. At the same time, Luka Modric is expected to retain his place in the lineup and make his 206th appearance for the national team.
Spain: 10 straight wins and a 41-match unbeaten run
Luis de la Fuente's team have been virtually flawless in the tournament and have won all three of their opening matches. Spain beat England 3-2, then thrashed Croatia 4-1, and in the last round defeated the Czech Republic 3-1. With nine points collected, the reigning world champions confidently lead the group.
Spain's overall unbeaten run in all competitions has now reached 41 matches, with their last 10 outings ending in victory. In the Nations League, Spain are also unbeaten in 16 consecutive matches, excluding defeats in penalty shootouts, which is the best record since the tournament was founded. Even with extensive rotation, the team maintain their quality of play, as demonstrated against the Czech Republic, when de la Fuente made nine changes to the starting lineup.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Croatia have conceded 11 goals in their last two Nations League matches.
- Spain have won their last 10 matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in 41 consecutive games.
- Spain have beaten Croatia in their last four head-to-head meetings, including the recent 4-1 victory.
After a historic 0-7 defeat, Croatia face their most difficult opponent: prediction for Croatia vs Spain
Croatia must respond to their humiliating defeat by England, so at home they will surely look to play in a much more cautious and compact manner. However, it is impossible to completely fix defensive problems in just a few days, especially ahead of a meeting with one of the tournament's most prolific opponents. Spain have already scored four goals against Croatia in the first game and are now in a far better state of mind.
De la Fuente's team have shown not only attacking efficiency but also impressive consistency regardless of changes to the lineup. Yamal, Pedri, Oyarzabal and the other attacking players are capable of constantly putting pressure on a defense that has just conceded seven goals. A repeat of the rout seen against England may not happen, but Spain's advantage looks far too significant.
