Croatia's heaviest defeat came on Saturday. On Tuesday they face Spain, unbeaten in 41 matches, in Split.
Croatia, four days after the heaviest defeat in their history, host world champions Spain in Split, where a 41-match unbeaten run is on the line.
Croatia host Spain at Stadion Poljud in Split on Tuesday, closing a run of four Nations League matches in 11 days. Kickoff is 8.45pm local, 2.45pm ET, 11.45am PT. 12
Croatia's week
England won 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday, the heaviest defeat in Croatia's history. UEFA had ordered the match behind closed doors, so the ground was filled with 6,200 local schoolchildren who watched Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka score twice each. 34
Four days earlier Spain had won 4-1 in Seville against Slaven Bilic's side. Bilic, back for a second spell as Croatia coach, has one win from three games: 2-1 in Czechia on 26 September. 56
"We aren't proud of what happened," captain Luka Modric said. "I hope the reaction of the fans will be positive, that they help lift us up, that they judge us after this game. We need them." 7
Spain's run
Spain are unbeaten in 41 matches 8, the longest run in the history of men's international football. 9 They beat Czechia 3-1 in Oviedo on Saturday, Lamine Yamal scoring after six minutes for the third group game in a row. The 19-year-old now has four goals in the group. 8
"No one will play more than 270 minutes," coach Luis de la Fuente said of this four-match window. 7
Where it turns
Group A3: Spain 9 points, England 6, Croatia 3, Czechia 0, and the top two reach the quarter-finals. Croatia's last win over Spain was 3-2 in Zagreb in 2018. 1
Verdict: Spain have scored 10 goals in three group games; Croatia have conceded 11 in their last two. 38
Quote of the Day
"The problem wasn't losing, it was how we lost." — Luka Modric, Croatia captain 7
References
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