Liam Duckstein
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Croatia host Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and our predicted lineups for both sides are shaped almost entirely by who has actually been selected in recent matches rather than by guesswork. Croatia arrive looking like the more settled of the two, while Spain’s expected XI points to a squad still being rotated. Neither team news picture is final until the official team sheets land, so treat what follows as our projection rather than a confirmed selection.
Predicted Croatia Line-up
Croatia are projected in a 4-2-3-1, the shape favoured by head coach Slaven Bilic, built from the last three matches used for this projection. This is a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match – which gives the lineup a strong sense of continuity heading into kickoff. Dominik Livaković has started all three matches used here and played the most recent one, making him as close to a certainty as the data allows, while Martin Baturina has started only once of the three and looks the least secure name in this XI. Everywhere else the pattern points the same way: a core group has barely changed across the sample.
Croatia predicted XI: Dominik Livaković; Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perišić, Luka Vuskovic, Josip Stanišić; Mateo Kovačić, Petar Sučić, Luka Modrić, Franjo Ivanovic, Martin Baturina; Petar Musa
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Dominik Livaković | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Josko Gvardiol | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 14 | Ivan Perišić | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 22 | Luka Vuskovic | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 2 | Josip Stanišić | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Mateo Kovačić | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 17 | Petar Sučić | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Luka Modrić | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Franjo Ivanovic | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | Martin Baturina | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 26 | Petar Musa | 1/3 | 1/3 |
Predicted Spain Line-up
Spain’s expected XI is set up in a 4-3-3, Luis de la Fuente’s preferred shape, drawn from the same three-match sample used for Croatia. Here the picture is less stable: this is a rotating side – only 6 of the projected XI started their last match – so several of these names are projections based on earlier appearances rather than the most recent selection. Lamine Yamal has started all three matches in the sample and played the last one, standing out as the most reliable pick in attack, while Roberto Fernández Jaén has only one start across the same period and is the shakiest inclusion in this predicted lineup. The gap between those two names captures how much rotation has shaped Spain’s recent selections.
Spain predicted XI: Unai Simon; Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pubill, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí; Daniel Olmo Carvajal, Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Baena Rodríguez, Roberto Fernández Jaén
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 23 | Unai Simon | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 14 | Aymeric Laporte | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 12 | Marc Pubill | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Marc Cucurella | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Pau Cubarsí | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 10 | Daniel Olmo Carvajal | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Fabián Ruiz | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| F | 19 | Lamine Yamal | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| F | 15 | Alejandro Baena Rodríguez | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| F | 17 | Roberto Fernández Jaén | 1/3 | 1/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
For Croatia, no absentees are recorded in the data, so Bilic is not being forced into changes through injury or suspension at any specific line. With the squad otherwise intact, a player such as Josip Šutalo looks best placed among the bench options to step in if selection does shift before kickoff.
For Spain, no absentees are recorded in the data either, leaving de la Fuente’s selection headaches purely tactical rather than enforced by team news. Among the bench names, Pedri stands out as a credible option to come into the midfield if de la Fuente opts to freshen things up.
How We Predict These XIs
Each predicted lineup here is built from that side’s last three available matches, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones so current form carries more influence than a result from further back. Any player confirmed injured or suspended is stripped out of contention before the XI is assembled. This remains a projection, not an announcement, and it can and will change once the official team news is confirmed closer to kickoff.
Read Also: Croatia vs Spain Prediction: 06.10.2026 UEFA Nations League Preview
FAQ
What formation are Croatia and Spain expected to use?
Croatia are projected in a 4-2-3-1 under Slaven Bilic, while Spain’s expected XI lines up in Luis de la Fuente’s preferred 4-3-3.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Croatia vs Spain?
Dominik Livaković is projected to start in goal for Croatia, having started all three matches used in this projection, while Unai Simon is the projected starter for Spain despite not starting the most recent match in the sample.
Are there any injuries or suspensions for Croatia vs Spain?
No absentees are recorded in the data for either Croatia or Spain ahead of this match.
When do Croatia and Spain kick off?
The UEFA Nations League match between Croatia and Spain kicks off on Tuesday 6 October 2026.