Croatia vs Spain: Why La Roja has maintained a perfect record
Spain has won all international games played during this break. All in the UEFA Nations League. However, what is most impressive is the variety of teams the wins came against.
You see, Luis De La Fuente has developed a foolproof plan, and it seems to work, because his men have beaten almost every type of opponent they have come up against. That said, the most difficult of the four, by a distance, was Croatia.
A tight game, a red card, and remontada
The game against Croatia was unexpected for viewers, and it’s clear it was the same for Spain too. The Croats gave De La Fuente’s men a very good game, and the world champions nearly didn’t leave with three points.
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Ivan Perisic took the lead 17 minutes in, but the Spaniards did not panic, as is their style. However, one hour into the game, La Roja were still behind. Superhero substitute Mikel Merino flew in to save the day again.
In the 61st minute, Merino put one past Dominik Livakovic to level the game. Two minutes before the end of regulation time, he struck again, putting his country ahead.
Both teams took 10 shots, created four big chances, and accumulated just over 1.0 xG. In fact, Croatia took two more shots on target than their opponents. However, Spain was still able to win, and that’s because the manager has a system that can win any game.
Spain in the UEFA Nations League so far
Spain won all four games, but couldn’t keep a single clean sheet. Against England, De La Fuente’s men conceded twice, and once in every other game. La Roja’s style allows them to break down every kind of opposition.
Their dribbling ability through Lamine Yamal means the team can create spaces even in a packed defense. The coordinated press means the team wins the ball back very quickly after losing it. Ball retention through the centerbacks and midfield means they can wear down opposition, and then strike when the opponents are exhausted. All these were at play against Croatia.
The late goal came after wearing them out. In games against Czechia, De La Fuente’s men simply had too much, and against England, there wasn’t much to separate both teams, though there was enough.
Significant difference in defense
In the 2026 World Cup, Spain’s defence was impeccable, only conceding once throughout the tournament. In the Nations League, the champions have conceded five goals in four games. This is an indication that opponents are learning how to penetrate the defense.
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In football, this is expected. Opposition teams have access to match footage and brilliant analysts who will watch top teams and find weaknesses. Hence, teams are beginning to find Spain’s weaknesses. Of course, success against the Spaniards will still come down to how much quality you have.