In the midst of a football storm, with Javier Tebas spearheading a massive complaint against FIFA over the suffocating international calendar, the Spanish national team once again grips the pulse of the Nations League. The encounter with Serbia is shadowed by the absence of Lamine Yamal due to a muscle overload, only adding fuel to the fire that won’t relent. Too many matches and conflicting interests jeopardize the players’ health. Today, Spain is set to play its fourth match in six weeks, with two more on the horizon in November. By December, many players could find it difficult to reach the opponent’s goal (follow the match live on As.com).
However, this challenge brings with it the incentive to secure qualification for the quarter-finals of the tournament, which this edition adds another round, further burdening the players. The mathematics are straightforward: if La Roja wins at the Nuevo Arcángel, it would secure at least second place in Group 4, having outpaced third-placed Serbia by six points with two matches remaining and with a favorable goal difference.
It was in Serbia, specifically in Belgrade, where the adventure in this Nations League started. On September 5, Luis de la Fuente’s men failed to secure a victory, and the 0-0 draw left a sour taste considering it marked a reunion with the European champions. Luka Jovic missed crucial chances, and in the second half, Spain struggled to find the net against a rival that waned as the match progressed.
A month offers little scope for change, so that Serbia is practically the same team visiting Córdoba today. Dusan Vlahovic remains a significant absentee; the Juventus forward, one of the standout talents of the Balkan squad, has chosen to remain unavailable. His standoff with coach Dragan Stojkovic continues, leaving the team at a disadvantage. Mitrovic is expected to be the main offensive threat.
The focus is also on the opposing bench, with De la Fuente under pressure as the renewal for his contract remains unresolved. The issues plaguing the RFEF have delayed the official announcement of the coach’s package till 2026. However, Luis remains focused on what truly matters today – the Nations League. The Riojan has no choice but to make the best of a difficult situation with a torrent of injuries.
As many as six regulars from the Euro 2020 final were unavailable for last Saturday’s clash against Denmark; now with Lamine’s absence, that number swells to seven. Only Laporte, Cucurella, Fabián, and Morata will form part of the starting eleven against Serbia. The Spanish-French defender is a fixture in the center of the defense, while the Chelsea man could slot in for Grimaldo, who started in Murcia. Milan’s forward looks likely to start, while the PSG midfielder remains a question mark.
Fabián finished the match against Denmark with muscular discomfort, although he managed to train at Las Rozas yesterday, matching the rhythm of his teammates. Among them is the chosen replacement for Lamine, Rodrigo Riquelme. The Atlético de Madrid player, who debuted with the national team in November 2023 (against Cyprus and Georgia), will also don the number 10 jersey previously worn by Lamine on Saturday. A double gift for Roro, who hasn’t received too many of those from Simeone lately.
