Recent head-to-head meetings have been fiercely contested, with Spain often holding the higher ceiling in high-intensity battles while Croatia retain proven tournament resilience. Spain under de la Fuente excel at sharp tempo shifts, wing overloads, and aggressive counter-pressing, possessing the squad depth to sustain pressure even amid planned rotations; Croatia under Bilić refuse to simply park the bus, relying on Modrić and Kovačić to break the first pressing line and exploit space behind advanced fullbacks. Both teams are motivated to claim vital group points. Spain will dominate territory, but Croatia's veteran midfield ensures they remain competitive throughout. With a demanding -1.5 handicap set, the hosts may struggle to clear the margin. Prediction: Croatia +1.5.