Sofia Quijada
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Spain host Czechia in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday 3 October 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one are shaped as much by who is missing as by who is in form. Czechia’s team news does most of the talking here, with a midfield absence forcing a selection call that Santi Denia has to get right, while Spain’s group is otherwise intact. Kickoff is set, and both sides’ expected XIs below are built from how they have actually lined up in their last two matches rather than any official announcement.
Spain Predicted XI
Luis de la Fuente’s side is projected in a 4-3-3, which is also his own preferred formation, and the data backs a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match. Unai Simon has started both of the matches used for this projection and looks the clear choice in goal, while Dean Huijsen, with just one start across the sample, is the one changeable piece in an otherwise consistent back line. Beyond that pair, the rest of the group has started at least once in the two games considered, which keeps this predicted line-up fairly stable for a squad with little data to go on.
Spain predicted XI: Unai Simon; Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Dean Huijsen; Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Fermín López; Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Baena Rodríguez, Mikel Oyarzabal
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 23 | Unai Simon | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 2 | Marc Pubill | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 22 | Pau Cubarsí | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 24 | Marc Cucurella | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 3 | Dean Huijsen | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 8 | Fabián Ruiz | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 18 | Martín Zubimendi | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 8 | Fermín López | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 19 | Lamine Yamal | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| F | 15 | Alejandro Baena Rodríguez | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 21 | Mikel Oyarzabal | 1/2 | 1/2 |
Czechia Predicted XI
Santi Denia’s projected shape is a 4-2-3-1, matching his preferred setup, and Czechia also rate as a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match. Robin Hranáč has started both matches in the sample and anchors the back four, whereas Lukas Ambros starts just once in that span and did not feature in the most recent match, making him the one name in this expected XI worth watching closest. The rest of the XI is drawn from players who have started at least one of the last two games, so the shape is consistent even if a couple of individual slots remain open to change.
Czechia predicted XI: Matěj Kovář; Robin Hranáč, Jiri Slama, Stepan Chaloupek, Ladislav Krejčí; Michal Sadílek, Lukáš Červ, Pavel Šulc, Matej Radosta, Lukas Ambros; Adam Hložek
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 2 | Last 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Matěj Kovář | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| D | 4 | Robin Hranáč | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 5 | Jiri Slama | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 6 | Stepan Chaloupek | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| D | 7 | Ladislav Krejčí | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 8 | Michal Sadílek | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 12 | Lukáš Červ | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 15 | Pavel Šulc | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| M | 18 | Matej Radosta | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| M | 13 | Lukas Ambros | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| F | 10 | Adam Hložek | 2/2 | 2/2 |
Injuries and Suspensions
For Spain, no absentees are recorded in the data, so de la Fuente’s projected XI above is not thinned by any confirmed injury or suspension in this dataset.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric García | D | injured | Jumpers knee |
Czechia’s team news centres on their midfield: Adam Karabec is out injured, which removes an option from that middle third. With Pavel Bucha among the bench options available, he is the alternative best placed to step into a more central role if Denia looks to freshen things up there.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Karabec | M | injured | Sprained ankle |
Where These Predictions Come From
Both projections are built from each team’s last two lineups, which is a thin sample and is treated as tentative here for that reason. The most recent of those two matches is weighted more heavily than the one before it, so a player’s latest selection carries more influence than an older one, and anyone confirmed injured or suspended has been removed before the XI is assembled. This is a projection, not a team announcement, and it will be updated once the official line-ups are confirmed closer to kickoff.
Read also: Spain vs Czech Republic Prediction: 03.10.2026 UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Preview
Read also: Spain vs Czechia Head-to-Head: Record, Stats and Form as of 1 Oct 2026
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Spain vs Czechia?
Unai Simon is projected to start for Spain, having started both matches used in this sample, while Matěj Kovář is the projected choice for Czechia.
What formation are Spain and Czechia expected to line up in?
Spain are projected in a 4-3-3 under Luis de la Fuente, and Czechia are projected in a 4-2-3-1 under Santi Denia.
Who is unavailable for Spain vs Czechia?
No absentees are recorded for Spain in this data, while Czechia are without Adam Karabec, who is out injured.
When do Spain play Czechia?
The UEFA Nations League match kicks off on Saturday 3 October 2026.