Lamine Yamal scores twice as Spain defeat Croatia 4-1 in Nations League
Lamine Yamal scored two goals and provided an assist as Spain defeated Croatia 4-1 in Seville, while England won 2-0 against ten-man Czech Republic in Prague.
Spain cruise past Croatia in Seville
World Cup winners Spain extended their unbeaten streak to 40 matches with a 4-1 victory over Croatia at the Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville on Tuesday. Before kickoff in front of over 42,000 spectators, captain Rodri paraded the World Cup trophy after receiving it from former international Jesus Navas. Spain rested Rodri in favour of Martin Zubimendi, while Croatia coach Slaven Bilic left Luka Modric on the bench. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring after 70 seconds, curling a low shot past Barcelona teammate Dominik Livakovic following a dummy from Fermin Lopez and a pass by Alex Baena. Croatia responded in the 28th minute when Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Beljo headed in a cross from captain Ivan Perisic for his first international goal in three caps. Spain regained the lead three minutes later as Marc Pubill headed home a cross from Yamal following a quickly taken corner.
Second-half dominance and Group A3 table
Spain maintained control after the interval and extended their lead in the 63rd minute. Pedri threaded a pass through the Croatian defensive line to Yamal, who struck the ball from a tight angle off the inside of the post for his second goal of the match. Substitute Nico Williams completed the 4-1 scoreline in the 88th minute with a firm shot past Livakovic after a flowing team move. The victory followed Spain's 3-2 win against England at Wembley on Saturday, placing them top of Nations League Group A3 with six points. Croatia and England sit tied on three points each, while the Czech Republic remain without a point.
- Spain
- 6 pts
- England
- 3 pts
- Croatia
- 3 pts
- Czech Republic
- 0 pts
- Lamine Yamal scores from an Alex Baena pass to give Spain the lead
- Dion Beljo equalises for Croatia with a header from an Ivan Perisic cross
- Marc Pubill heads in a cross from Lamine Yamal to restore Spain's lead
- Lamine Yamal scores his second goal from a tight angle after a pass from Pedri
- Nico Williams scores from close range to make it 4-1 for Spain
England defeat ten-man Czechs in Prague
In the other Group A3 fixture, England secured a 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic in Prague. The hosts suffered a setback in the 23rd minute when Pavel Sulc received a straight red card for a foul on Elliot Anderson. England broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half when Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first national team start in nearly two years, crossed for Anthony Gordon to head into the bottom corner. Captain Harry Kane added a second goal in the 69th minute, driving the ball home after defender Robin Hranac blocked an initial effort from Morgan Rogers. The result gives England their first points in the group following their opening defeat to Spain.
Switzerland beat ten-man Scotland in Glasgow
In League B Group 1, Switzerland earned a 3-0 away win against Scotland in Sebastien Pocognoli's first home fixture as Scotland manager. Scotland defender Jack Hendry was sent off in the 11th minute, and Ricardo Rodriguez put the visitors ahead one minute later from the resulting sequence. Switzerland doubled their advantage in the 55th minute through Nico Elvedi, before Mohamed Amdouni rounded off the scoring in the 82nd minute. The result leaves Switzerland top of Group 1 with six points, followed by Slovenia on four points, Scotland on one point, and North Macedonia with zero points.
