"We are not whiners and we do not make excuses. It is the format that there is and here there are no excuses or complaints," Luis de la Fuente said on the eve of Croatia vs Spain. Spain go into the last match of the first long break at the end of September and the beginning of October with the coach focused less on the scoreline than on the workload. He said the schedule forces players to play four UEFA Nations League matches in barely two weeks, and that nobody will play more than 270 minutes across the four games.

The workload Spain are trying to manage

De la Fuente's point was not a hidden complaint, it was a direct one. He has used the build-up to frame the trip as a test of squad management, with Spain trying to stay competitive while spreading the load. That is why the 270-minute ceiling stands out, especially with a Nations League run that has already produced three straight matches for some players.

Spain are unbeaten in their last three Nations League matches, while Croatia come into the game after a 0-7 defeat to England. De la Fuente was careful not to read too much into that result. He called it an accident and said it did not define Croatia, who he described as one of the most important national teams in recent years.

Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo stay in the frame

The other selection question sits around Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo. Lamine has started all three games for La Roja so far in the break, scored 4 goals in 3 Nations League matches and played 204 minutes. De la Fuente still described him as being in a fantastic moment and in great shape for tomorrow, while also saying selection would depend on whether it is convenient to use him again.

Olmo brings a different kind of option. He has 0 goals and 2 assists in 2 Nations League appearances, with 149 minutes so far, and the fixture carries an extra edge for him after his years at Barcelona and Dinamo Zagreb. Olmo said Croatia will be even more dangerous at home and added that tomorrow will be a special match for him.

De la Fuente has left Spain with a clear line going into the game, no excuses, controlled minutes and a squad he still trusts to compete. The final call on Lamine and Olmo will come before a match that kicks off on 6 October in Split.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →