Spain made sure that challenge became even harder almost immediately.
Just two minutes had been played at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán when Lamine Yamal found the net, giving the hosts a dream start in their first home match since winning the World Cup.
It was exactly the kind of opening Croatia had hoped to avoid.
Spain immediately imposed their possession game, moved the ball quickly around Croatia’s defensive block and repeatedly found space in dangerous areas. Álex Baena forced Dominik Livaković into action as the hosts threatened to increase their lead.
For a period, it looked as though Croatia could be overwhelmed.
Instead, they responded.
Beljo Gives Croatia Hope
In the 28th minute, Ivan Perišić delivered from the left and Dion Drena Beljo rose to head the ball past Unai Simón. It was Croatia’s best attacking moment of the first half and, briefly, changed the atmosphere of the contest.
At 1–1, the visitors suddenly had something to build on. But the response lasted only three minutes.
Yamal was again at the heart of the move, delivering from the right for Marc Pubill, whose powerful header restored Spain’s advantage.
The timing of the goal was particularly damaging. Croatia had worked their way back into the match only to surrender parity before they had an opportunity to settle.
Spain nearly added another before half-time, with Fermín López striking the post, while another effort was ruled out for offside.
That sequence summed up the wider problem for Croatia: even when they found a way through Spain’s pressure, they struggled to control the match long enough to make those positive spells count.
Yamal Takes Centre Stage
If there was one player who embodied the difference between the two teams, it was Yamal.
Already the scorer of Spain’s opening goal, he created the second and then effectively settled the contest in the 63rd minute.
After receiving the ball from Pedri, Yamal attacked from the right and beat Livaković from a tight angle to make it 3–1.
Nico Williams completed the scoring in the 89th minute.
Two goals, an assist and a constant threat from wide areas made Yamal the defining figure of the evening.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was unsurprisingly full of praise afterwards. Rather than focusing only on Yamal’s individual ability, he highlighted how the winger uses his talent for the benefit of the team.
That distinction matters.
Spain’s strength was not simply that they had the most dangerous individual on the pitch. Their attacking players operated inside a system that repeatedly created space for one another, moved Croatia’s defensive structure and punished hesitation.
For Croatia, Yamal was the most visible problem, but he was far from the only one.
Bilić: Croatia Made Spain’s Job Easier
Slaven Bilić did not attempt to hide his frustration after the final whistle.
The Croatia coach acknowledged Spain’s quality, describing them as the best team in the world, but his criticism focused primarily on his own players’ approach.
He felt Croatia had been far too passive and had given elite Spanish players too much time and space in dangerous areas.
The early goal clearly affected the visitors, but Bilić rejected the idea that facing the world champions was enough to excuse the performance.
His verdict was particularly revealing: Croatia had made Spain’s job easier.
Bilić also identified the period surrounding Beljo’s equaliser as a major missed opportunity. Croatia had finally begun escaping Spain’s press, switching play effectively through Mateo Kovačić and finding Perišić in advanced positions.
At 1–1, the challenge was to slow the match down, become more compact and force Spain to feel some pressure.
Instead, Croatia conceded almost immediately.
“The defensive phase wasn’t good,” was the essence of Bilić’s assessment, with Spain repeatedly receiving the ball in areas Croatia had specifically wanted to protect.
There were positives.
Bilić singled out Beljo for praise, not only because of his goal, and Croatia did produce moments when they played through Spain’s pressing structure with composure.
But those moments were too isolated.
Against a team of Spain’s quality, isolated moments are rarely enough.
A Celebration Spain Refused to Spoil
The wider context made the evening particularly significant for the hosts.
This was Spain’s first match on home soil since becoming world champions, and the occasion had been designed as a celebration.
Before kick-off, 2010 World Cup winner Jesús Navas presented the World Cup trophy to captain Rodri, while 40,294 spectators filled the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Spain then produced a performance worthy of the occasion.
The stadium itself has also become something of a fortress for the national team. Spain entered the match without a defeat there and extended that record against Croatia.
The victory also maintained Spain’s perfect start to Nations League Group A3 after they had already beaten England 3–2 at Wembley.
Croatia, by contrast, remained on three points after two matches, having opened their campaign with an important 2–1 victory over Czechia in Prague. England’s 2–0 win in Prague on the same night left the group finely balanced behind Spain.
The Scoreline Was Heavy, but the Lesson Was Clear
A 4–1 defeat always looks severe.
Yet for Croatia, the more relevant concern was not simply the margin but the way Spain were allowed to dictate too much of the game.
Bilić had selected a side with pace, physicality and aggression in mind. By his own admission, too little of those qualities appeared on the pitch.
That is perhaps the central lesson from Seville.
There is no shame in losing away to the reigning world champions. Spain are capable of dominating almost any opponent and arrived in the match on a remarkable unbeaten run.
But Croatia have built their international reputation on making elite opponents uncomfortable.
On this occasion, they did not do that often enough.
Beljo’s equaliser showed that Spain could be hurt. The short spell around that goal showed Croatia could break through the Spanish press and create opportunities.
What followed showed how little room for error exists at this level.
Croatia managed to fight their way back into the contest once. Spain’s quality ensured they were never given the chance to do it twice.
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