Seville: Spain and Croatia will renew their rivalry on Tuesday in a Nations League clash that brings together two players at opposite ends of their careers, teenage superstar Lamine Yamal and veteran Croatian captain Luka Modric.

Both teams head into the encounter on the back of winning starts to their respective campaigns.

Spain opened with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over England in London, while Croatia began their campaign with a 2-1 win over Czechia in Prague.

World champions Spain enter the match on an extraordinary 39-game winning streak, a record for a European national team, and are chasing their second Nations League title following their triumph in 2023.

La Roja, who finished as finalists last year, will now face a difficult second match against a balanced and experienced Croatian side.

Modric once again remains central to Croatia’s plans and played a key role in orchestrating their opening victory. At 41, the veteran midfielder continues to be one of the team’s most influential figures.

At the other end of the spectrum, Yamal has become one of Spain’s biggest attacking threats at just 19, setting up an intriguing individual subplot between youth and experience.

The two nations last met during the group stage of UEFA Euro 2024, when Spain claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over Croatia.

Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal were all on target in that encounter as Spain comfortably took all three points.