Croatia's worst-ever loss spells trouble as Spain seeks fourth straight Nations League win
Slaven Bilić’s return to the Croatia hot seat has been pretty disastrous to date. Following a narrow win over Czechia and the defeat to Spain, the 58-year-old oversaw the nation’s worst-ever loss during an embarrassing 7–0 defeat to England on home soil.
That result did not just sting; it reset the record books in the worst possible way. A team that reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in Qatar now finds itself shipping goals at an alarming rate, with the 7–0 collapse coming on the back of a 4–1 loss to La Roja in the reverse fixture.
Massive improvements are needed to avoid yet more humiliation against Spain. The context only sharpens the edge: this is a repeat of the 2022–23 Nations League final, which Spain won on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless action. That night in Rotterdam was tight, tense and decided by nerve.
Tuesday in Split promises none of that symmetry. Croatia’s rapid decline and dismal start under Bilić means the rematch carries a very different weight, and the home crowd will be braced for another long evening against a Spain side chasing a fourth straight win in the group.
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE COLLAPSE
The numbers paint a brutal picture of Croatia’s international break. The defense has been utterly atrocious, allowing 12 goals across just three matches, per www.si.com.
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That is not a blip; it is a trend. Croatia have now lost six of their last 10 games, regularly falling to European giants against whom they were previously competitive. The 2018 World Cup finalists are entering a new era of uncertainty, and the stats show a team in freefall.
Spain, meanwhile, are operating at a different altitude. La Roja have been in breathless attacking form, scoring three or more in each of their Nations League matches to date. The world champion’s winning streak now stands at 10 games in all competitions.
Yet the one crack in Spain’s armor is defensive: they are yet to keep a clean sheet in this Nations League campaign. That small concession has not mattered so far, given the firepower at the other end.
The deeper context makes the gap feel even wider. One must cast an eye back to March 2024 for the last time Spain was beaten in 90 minutes. Since then, it has played 41 matches without losing in regulation time, becoming European and world champion in the process.
Croatia’s trajectory runs in the opposite direction. Their worst-ever loss came on home soil, and the rematch with Spain now carries the weight of a side desperately trying to steady a sinking ship.
YAMAL LEADS SPAIN'S ATTACK
Lamine Yamal was particularly impressive in the reverse fixture, scoring twice and providing an assist to continue his stellar form. The 17-year-old Barcelona winger has become the focal point of a Spain attack that has scored three or more in every Nations League match so far.
An inspired attacking unit led by Yamal has proven too much for opponents. Even with Spain yet to keep a clean sheet, the firepower at the other end has made that defensive blemish a footnote rather than a flaw.
One would expect the 2018 World Cup runner-up to take a more cautious approach on Tuesday to help steady the ship. Croatia’s defense has allowed 12 goals across three matches this international break, and conceding seven to England on home soil demands a response.
But Spain’s fearsome forwards will be licking their lips regardless of that expected caution. The gap between the sides was laid bare in the 4–1 thrashing in the reverse fixture, and Croatia’s rapid decline under Slaven Bilić offers little reason to believe the rematch will unfold differently.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Spain travels to Split with the expectation of securing back-to-back wins over Croatia, a side that has conceded 12 goals across three matches this international break. The final score and lineup, however, are not confirmed.
Croatia must show massive improvements to avoid yet more humiliation against La Roja. Bilić’s side has lost six of its last 10 games, regularly falling to European giants against whom they were previously competitive.
Rewind a year or two and this would have been a very different fixture. But Croatia’s rapid decline and dismal start under Bilić means Spain should run out handsome winners yet again.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, closing the current international window. Beyond that, the 2018 World Cup runner-up faces a new era of uncertainty, with questions mounting over how quickly Bilić can steady a squad that just endured its worst-ever loss.
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