Spain kicked off their Nations League campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory over Croatia at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Tuesday. The match marked their first home game since lifting the World Cup, and they did not disappoint. Lamine Yamal, just 19 years old, was the star of the show, scoring two goals and setting up another. His impressive performance has strengthened his case for the Ballon d'Or, with voting having closed on Monday.
The game got off to a flying start, with Yamal opening the scoring within 75 seconds. However, Croatia equalized just before the half-hour mark through Dion Beljo's header. The visitors' joy was short-lived, as Marc Pubill restored Spain's lead with a header from a pinpoint Yamal cross. The home side dominated possession and created several chances, but Fermin Lopez failed to find the bottom corner just before halftime.
Yamal claimed his second goal after 63 minutes, beating Barcelona teammate and Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic at his near post. This took his tally of international goals to 10 in 35 appearances. The teenager's performance has been impressive, and his contribution to Spain's play has not gone unnoticed. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised Yamal, saying he will be much more recognized for his contribution to the team's play in the future.
The home side sealed their victory with a fourth goal from Nico Williams, who scored with a crisp dribble and finish just before the end of the game. De la Fuente was pleased with the team's performance, saying they could have ended the first half 4-1 or 5-1. He attributed their success to their ability to regain possession, pass well, and control the game.
The match was also significant as it marked the return of the World Cup trophy to Spain. Captain Rodri showed off the trophy before kick-off, being handed it by Sevilla legend Jesus Navas, a winner with Spain in 2010. Yamal expressed his excitement about bringing the trophy home, saying it was great to win the game and bring it back to Spain.
The win extends Spain's unbeaten run to 40 matches, which includes their final triumph over Argentina in the United States in June. They will next play Czech Republic on Saturday in Group A3. The team's performance has been impressive, and they will look to continue their winning streak in the Nations League.
The match also saw several players making their mark. Yamal, Alex Baena, and Mikel Oyarzabal started the game having scored in Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over England at Wembley. Meanwhile, Croatia made six changes from their weekend win over the Czech Republic, leaving icon Luka Modric on the bench.
Key points
- Lamine Yamal scored twice and assisted another goal in Spain's 4-1 win over Croatia.
- The win extends Spain's unbeaten run to 40 matches.
- Yamal's performance has strengthened his case for the Ballon d'Or.
