Spain host World Cup runners-up Croatia on Tuesday night in the UEFA Nations League. Spain have already played their first match in League A Group 1. The Luis Enrique era got off to a great start as Spain came from a goal down to England to defeat the Three Lions at Wembley.
Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno showed just why he is so highly rated in La Liga. Moreno tallied a goal and assist to lead the team to a win.
The Croatians were so close to claiming their first ever World Cup trophy in July. On the way to the final against France, the Croatians knocked off England in the semifinals, 2-1. Zlatko Dalic has some of Europe’s top players in his squad and they are worthy of the current FIFA No. 7 in the world ranking.
While Spain played England in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, Croatia played out a 1-1 draw against Portugal. Ivan Perisic continued his great form for the national team with an 18th minute goal.
Despite three of Croatia’s top players retiring post-World Cup, Dalic has called upon many of the faces that appeared in Russia over the summer. Goalkeeper and penalty shootout hero Danijel Subasic retired from international duty.
He was joined by Verdan Corluka and Mario Mandzukic. While Corluka was mostly a bit part player, it will be extremely difficult for Dalic to replace Subasic and Mandzukic. The latter tallied three goals at the World Cup.
Enrique is still getting his tactics to work with Spain. It seems he has adopted a very Atletico Madrid style rather than the tikka-taka of former club Barcelona. Enrique wants his players to press, win possession, and attack in numbers. Spain still kept more possession than England at Wembley and haven’t altogether given up the possession-based attack the national side has favoured for the last 10 years.
Enrique has been known to rotate his players in and out of the side during his club coaching career. It is expected that he will make a change or two on Tuesday night. Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata could start as the team’s No. 9. He would replace Iago Aspas, who was wholly ineffective against the Three Lions.
Croatia have a high-quality front three in the form of Marko Livaja, Marko Pjaca, and Perisic. Although Livaja and Pjaca have only 21 caps between them, the duo has immense potential. Pjaca will start in place of the injured Ante Rebic, who starred at the World Cup. It is an opportunity for Pjaca to shine and lay down a marker for a starting position with the national side. Despite a host of injuries to other players including Dejan Lovren, Dalic will have Ivan Rakitic back. He missed Saturday’s friendly against Portugal.
Dalic will have his work cut out for him against Enrique. However, Croatia are still full of confidence from their summer in Russia. Meanwhile, Spain are re-building under Enrique and have a long way to go to return to the heights they previously enjoyed. Croatia will win in Elche on Tuesday night and continue their momentum in international football.