A box-office clash headlines round two of League A Group 3 as reigning world and European champions Spain host old foes Croatia. With both sides picking up maximum points in their opening assignments, this encounter serves as a battle for outright leadership of the group and provides Slaven Bilic with the ultimate acid test in the infancy of his second managerial spell.
Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 29, 2026 8.45pm
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Spain
Sovereign Authority & Wembley Momentum
Spain are undeniably the team to beat in international football after adding the 2026 World Cup to their European crown over the summer. Luis de la Fuente’s men underscored their imperious pedigree in their campaign opener on Saturday, overcoming adversity to secure an impressive comeback victory over England at Wembley Stadium. Returning to home soil, La Roja will aim to dictate the tempo through their trademark suffocating possession and rapid territorial counter-pressing.
Rearguard Adjustments & Squad Depth
Despite their imperious winning momentum, Spain have had to navigate recurring personnel disruptions across the backline:
Absentees & Defensive Call-Up: Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia and Tottenham Hotspur full-back Pedro Porro withdrew from the squad prior to the England victory due to injuries. The defensive ranks were further depleted on Saturday when Barcelona defender Eric Garcia suffered a knee injury in the pre-match buildup and subsequently withdrew from the camp. Atletico Madrid center-back Robin Le Normand has been drafted in as his replacement.
Super-Subs Pushing to Start: Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal enter Tuesday in scintillating form after both came off the bench to score the decisive goals against England, putting them in pole position for starting roles.
Midfield Injection: Pedri produced a razor-sharp cameo at Wembley, demonstrating exceptional spatial awareness and line-breaking incision. Should De la Fuente choose to inject freshness into his midfield trio, the Barcelona maestro is primed to return to the starting XI.
Croatia
Bilic’s Triumphant Return & Modric's Enduring Class
Slaven Bilic is back at the helm of his country, 14 years after his memorable six-year reign in the national team dugout drew to a close. The 58-year-old took over from long-serving manager Zlatko Dalic, whose contract expired following Croatia’s round-of-32 exit at the 2026 World Cup. Bilic enjoyed an ideal start to his second spell on Saturday, guiding the Kockasti to a gritty 2-1 away triumph against the Czech Republic in Prague.
Evergreen captain Luka Modric, who celebrated his 41st birthday earlier this month, continues to defy Father Time, breaking the deadlock inside the opening two minutes of the second half before Adam Karabec equalized for the hosts. Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic proved to be Croatia's match-winner, claiming his second international goal—more than two years after his first—to seal all three points.
Historical Hurdles & Tactical Adjustments
While the Czech Republic win offered substantial encouragement, Croatia face formidable psychological and historical barriers on Tuesday:
Head-to-Head Record: Croatia have not tasted victory against Spain since a dramatic 3-2 home win in the Nations League in November 2018. Furthermore, their sole victory on Spanish soil across their history was a 2-0 friendly win back in March 1994.
Injuries & Replacements: Union Berlin full-back Josip Juranovic and Midtjylland defender Martin Erlic were forced to withdraw from the initial roster due to injury. In response, Bilic called up Lovro Majer, Marin Pongracic, and Kristijan Jakic to reinforce squad depth.
Frontline Dynamics: Game-winner Marco Pasalic is pushing strongly for a starting berth on the flank. Centrally, Osasuna target man Ante Budimir could be unleashed from the outset if Bilic opts to introduce physical hold-up play and aerial presence against the Spanish center-backs.
