Spain defeated Croatia 4-1 in their UEFA Nations League Division A match in Seville on Tuesday evening as forward Lamine Yamal scored twice.
The fixture at the stadium in Seville was Spain's first match on home soil since winning their second World Cup title in July, when they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final. Prior to kick-off, former Sevilla winger Jesus Navas presented the World Cup trophy to Manchester City midfielder Rodri before an orchestra solemnly played the Spanish national anthem.
Coach Luis de la Fuente's team took control from the opening whistle, taking the lead in the second minute. Lamine Yamal struck early to record his second goal in the current Nations League campaign, following his previous strike in Spain's 3-2 victory over England.
Croatia responded in the 29th minute when Dion Drena Beljo jumped in the air to meet a delivery, breaking clear of defender Dean Huijsen to head past Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon. However, the visiting side remained level for less than 120 seconds.
Yamal turned provider almost immediately, setting up defender Marc Pubill to score and give Spain a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.
The UEFA Nations League is UEFA's biennial international competition for European member associations, with Division A bringing together top-ranked national teams. Spain entered the fixture looking to build on their international momentum under de la Fuente following their summer tournament triumph in July.
Yamal and Williams extend Spanish lead
Spain continued to dominate after the half-time break, with Yamal scoring his second goal of the night in the 63rd minute. The winger received a through pass from Barcelona teammate Pedri, drove into the penalty area, and finished past Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic at the near post.
Nico Williams rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute to make it 4-1. The winger executed an individual solo run before beating Livakovic shortly before the conclusion of the second half.
Yamal, Pedri, and Williams represent a new generation of Spanish international talent. Livakovic, who plays his club football in Turkey for Fenerbahce, faced constant pressure from the Spanish attack throughout the second half in the Andalusian capital.
England earn win against ten-man Czech Republic
In the group's other match on Tuesday, England secured a 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic in Prague. The Czech side suffered a major setback in the 23rd minute when Pavel Sulc was shown a red card, leaving the host team with ten players.
England made their numerical advantage count after the interval. Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 47th minute, and captain Harry Kane doubled the lead in the 69th minute to complete the win for the visitors.
Kane, who plays for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, is England's record goalscorer. The victory keeps England active in the race at the top of Group 3 alongside Spain.
Upcoming Division A fixtures
The current international break features a full schedule of Division A matches across Europe. On Thursday, October 1, Germany play Serbia, Greece take on the Netherlands, Denmark meet Portugal, and Wales host Norway.
On Friday, October 2, France face Italy, Belgium play Turkey, Croatia host England, and Spain welcome the Czech Republic.
The fourth round of fixtures will be played from October 4 to October 6, highlighted by matches between Portugal and Norway, Croatia and Spain, and France against Belgium.
