Sept 29 – Lamine Yamal scored twice as World Cup winners Spain extended their unbeaten run to 40 matches and maintained their perfect start to Nations League Group A3 with a 4-1 home win over Croatia on Tuesday, while England overcame 10-man Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague.
In a repeat of the 2023 Nations League final, which Spain won on penalties, Croatia recovered from conceding an early goal to equalise but were unable to resist a Spanish side fresh from a 3-2 win over England at Wembley on Saturday.
Spain’s first home game since lifting the World Cup in July was preceded by Rodri parading the trophy on the pitch and the celebrations continued in Seville when Lamine, just as he did against England, opened the scoring in the second minute. Baena then had an effort parried away by Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic as Spain looked set to put the game out of reach early on but the visitors drew level through Dion Beljo’s 28th-minute header. Lamine scored his second and Spain’s third in the 63rd minute, collecting Pedri’s pass in the box before drilling his shot into the net from a tight angle and substitute Nico Williams wrapped up the win with an 89th-minute goal. England struggled to find a way past the Czechs in the opening half, even with a numerical advantage, but an early second-half goal from Anthony Gordon sent Thomas Tuchel’s side on their way. Morgan Rogers hit the post and Elliot Anderson’s goalbound follow-up shot was blocked by defender Robin Hranac before England’s chances were boosted by a red card for the hosts, with Pavel Sulc given his marching orders for a foul on Anderson in the 23rd minute. Hall then played a cross into the box which Czech captain Ladislav Krejci almost turned into his own net, with the ball hitting the upright, but England found the second goal in the 69th minute.
