Spain and Croatia have confirmed their starting lineups for the UEFA Nations League meeting on March 23, 2025, with Luis de la Fuente again underlining that no player would be asked to do more than 270 minutes during the international break. It is a practical reminder of how carefully Spain are managing workload, even in a high-profile match against Croatia.
The central question before kickoff is not just who starts, but how each side has handled the balance between quality and freshness. Spain's approach has been shaped by de la Fuente's clear message that he would not overuse his players, while Croatia arrive with the added pressure of a heavy 0-7 loss to England still hanging over them.
Spain keep the focus on control and rotation
Spain's confirmed XI includes Unai Simón, Pubill, Cubarsí, Laporte and Cucurella, with Rodri, Pedri and Baena in midfield. Lamine Yamal also starts, alongside Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo, giving Spain a blend of control, creativity and direct threat.
That selection fits the message from de la Fuente, who said in Spanish that “nadie iba a jugar más de 270”. In other words, the priority is not simply winning this one game, but keeping the squad in the right physical condition across the break.
For Yamal, the minutes conversation is already important. He had played 203 minutes before this match, a figure that shows both how much responsibility he has already carried and why Spain are paying such close attention to his workload.
Croatia answer with experience and familiarity
Croatia's XI features Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol and Jakic, with Kovacic, Luka Modric and Perisic among the names trusted from the start. Vlasic, Matanovic and Luka Vuskovic also appear in the lineup, giving Croatia a mix of senior experience and younger legs.
The mood around Croatia has been strained since the defeat to England, and that reaction has been impossible to ignore. Some fans were angry enough to cry, “¡Parecemos San Marino!”, a line that captured the scale of frustration after such a heavy loss.
There is also a wider backdrop to this fixture, especially around Dani Olmo. His positive reputation in Croatia has been reinforced by his time there and by his donation of 2% of his salary to Vukovar, a gesture that Croatian journalists applauded in the Hajduk Split press room.
A match shaped by context as much as selection
This is more than a simple Nations League lineup release. Croatia are trying to steady themselves after a damaging result, while Spain are trying to keep their squad fresh without losing their edge.
For de la Fuente, the challenge is clear: keep the top players involved, but do not push beyond sensible limits. For Croatia, the task is to turn selection into response, and to show that the anger from the England defeat can be channelled into something more controlled in Sevilla.
With both starting XIs now confirmed, the next question is whether the lineups deliver the performance and response each side needs.
