World champions Spain continued their impressive start to the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday, dismantling Croatia 4-1 in Seville. The victory at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan marked the national team’s first home appearance since their World Cup triumph in New York this past July. Before kickoff, captain Rodri showcased the trophy to the ecstatic home crowd, having received it from 2010 winner and local legend Jesus Navas.
Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old sensation, ignited the match by scoring within just 75 seconds. Although Croatia briefly equalized through a Dion Beljo header in the 28th minute, Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill restored Spain’s advantage shortly after. Yamal added his second of the night in the 63rd minute—his third goal of the current tournament—before Nico Williams rounded off the scoring with a late strike. Reflecting on the result, Yamal shared his enthusiasm, stating they were excited to bring the trophy to the fans and that winning at home felt fantastic. Spain’s supporters did not have long to wait before their side provided further excitement in Andalusia as Yamal fired them into the lead inside 75 seconds. But Atletico defender Marc Pubill popped up at the other end three minutes later to head in a Yamal centre and restore the hosts’ lead, dion Beljo nodded in Ivan Perisic’s cross to briefly level the scores shortly before the half-hour. After also scoring early in Spain’s 3-2 win at Wembley against England last week to kickstart their Nations League campaign, Yamal brought his tally in the 2026/27 edition of the tournament to three as he put Spain two clear of Croatia in the 63rd minute with a precise finish at Dominik Livakovic’s near post. According to “Lamine is keen to keep developing and show the world the sort of footballer he is,” Luis de la Fuente, Of the 19-year-old star.
Coach Luis de la Fuente lauded Yamal’s development, noting that the team has enjoyed his magic and that the young forward is destined for greater recognition as he continues to contribute significantly to the squad’s performance. With this result, Spain holds a perfect record in Group A3 with six points, sitting three points clear of second-placed England. He’ll be much more recognised for what he does and for his contribution to the team’s play,” the coach added of Yamal, who is among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or, in the future.
Meanwhile, in Prague, Thomas Tuchel’s England registered their first group victory with a 2-0 result against the Czech Republic. Despite Pavel Sulc receiving a red card in the 23rd minute for a challenge on Elliot Anderson, the hosts held firm until after halftime. Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock early in the second half via a Trent Alexander-Arnold assist, marking his third goal in three matches. Harry Kane secured the victory in the 69th minute by driving a strike past goalkeeper Matej Kovar. In Prague, Thomas Tuchel’s England got their first win of the group with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Czech Republic thanks to second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Kane. Deserved victory,” Tuchel told ITV.
Tuchel praised his team’s professional approach during the second half, acknowledging that while the early red card created an awkward scenario for both sides, securing the points was the primary objective. Looking ahead, England travels to Rijeka to face Croatia on Saturday, while Spain prepares to host the Czechs in Oviedo.
Elsewhere in the Nations League, Scotland suffered a 3-0 defeat at home against Switzerland following an early red card, while Slovenia secured a 2-0 win over North Macedonia in Ljubljana.
Separately, Portugal manager Jorge Jesus addressed speculation regarding his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday. Denying any rift, the 72-year-old coach explained that Ronaldo’s frustration after remaining on the bench during the 2-1 win over Norway was typical for any competitive player. Addressing the forward’s decision to head straight to the dressing room instead of greeting fans in Oslo, Jesus emphasized that no formal incident occurred, noting that players who spend significant time warming up without entering the pitch are naturally unhappy.
