Spain, led by 2026 Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal’s brace, crushed Croatia 4-1, extending their impressive unbeaten streak to 40 matches (31 wins, 9 draws).
The match took place at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, Spain, as part of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League A Group 3 second group stage fixture.
Fresh off their 2026 North American World Cup victory, Spain continued their dominance with back-to-back wins in the Nations League, pushing their international unbeaten run to 40 games.
Prior to kickoff, Spain proudly displayed the World Cup trophy to their home crowd. Jesús Navas, a member of the 2010 World Cup-winning squad in South Africa, presented the coveted trophy to current captain Rodri.
The hosts wasted no time, with Yamal finding the back of the net just two minutes in. The young star latched onto Alex Baena’s pass and rifled a left-footed shot past the Croatian keeper.
This lightning-fast strike marked Yamal’s second consecutive goal in the opening two minutes, following his early tally against England in the previous Nations League group stage match.
Croatia managed to level the score in the 28th minute through Dion Beljo, but their joy was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Yamal turned provider, whipping in a cross from the right flank for Marc Pubill to head home, restoring Spain’s lead.
Yamal’s stellar performance continued after the break. In the 63rd minute, he connected with a Pedri pass to bag his second goal, extending Spain’s lead to 3-1.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or hopeful has been on fire for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. This season alone, Yamal has racked up an impressive 8 goals and 6 assists in just 8 appearances for his club.
Despite their comfortable lead, Spain kept their foot on the gas. Coach Luis de la Fuente introduced fresh legs in Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz, with Williams putting the final nail in Croatia’s coffin in the 89th minute.
In the post-match press conference, de la Fuente praised Yamal’s magical contributions to the team’s success. Yamal’s performances will only gain more recognition in the future, he stated, backing his young star in the race for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Elsewhere in the group, England traveled to the Czech Republic and came away with a 2-0 victory against the 10-man hosts.
The Czechs found themselves at a numerical disadvantage when Pavel Šulc saw red for an unnecessary foul in the 25th minute.
England capitalized on their extra man, with Anthony Gordon breaking the deadlock in the 47th minute. The forward rose highest to nod home a pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Three Lions continued to press their advantage, and Harry Kane sealed the deal in the 69th minute, pouncing on a goalmouth scramble to secure the win.
