The Two Stars Will Shine in a Special Colour
Seville has a special way of welcoming great nights. And this one arrives with a different kind of brilliance. The Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán opens its doors to a Spain side returning home as two-time world champions, with two stars above the crest. Under the lights of Nervión, the national team will unveil its new status in front of its supporters, in a night that promises to have, as Seville's tradition dictates, a special colour.
Spain - Croatia, 20:45 (CET) on La 1 de TVE
The national team returns to Sevilla FC's stadium more than eleven years after its last visit. That previous encounter came against Ukraine in 2015, when Spain won 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier. This time, Luis de la Fuente's side will face Croatia in the second round of the UEFA Nations League.
Croatia are a familiar opponent. The two sides have met eleven times, with Spain recording seven wins, one draw and three defeats. Their most recent meeting came at EURO 2024, when Spain defeated Croatia 3-0 in the group stage with goals from Morata, Fabián and Carvajal before going on to win the tournament. Their previous encounter had been the 2023 UEFA Nations League final, which Spain also won, this time on penalties. A long-standing rivalry between the two sides will now add another chapter in Seville.
The national team will play its 26th match at the Sánchez-Pizjuán.
The most striking statistic is that Spain have never lost at the Seville stadium, remaining unbeaten across all 25 matches played there to date. Croatia arrive having defeated the Czech Republic, the other team in the group alongside England, meaning both sides have three points in the standings.
The emotional dimension will be impossible to ignore. Spain already unveiled its second star on the pitch at Wembley, where they came from behind to beat England 3-2. But that happened on English soil and in front of a home crowd. The Sánchez-Pizjuán will be the first Spanish stadium able to celebrate the second World Cup triumph directly.
Ultimately, Spain-Croatia is about more than the second matchday of the Nations League. It is the reunion of the two-time world champions with their supporters, Spain's return to the Pizjuán after more than a decade, and another chapter in a rivalry that has produced historic matches in recent years.
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