Croatia have been drawn against Spain, England, and Czechia in the September–November 2026 window of the UEFA Nations League.
It is, without question, one of the toughest groups the competition has ever produced. With only the top two nations advancing directly to the quarterfinals, every match will carry knockout-level intensity.
There has never been a clearer “Group of Death” in Nations League history.
Oof
The start for NL is in early September 2026 and the first 3 matches are played in a time period of 7 days which is brutal. This will definitely test our depth and whoever is the coach they will need to rotate the players around.
It would be nice if we could start first with two matches at home i.e. with Czechia followed by second home match against England or Spain before playing the third match away.
We are going to need a good start if to have any chance of making it out of the group or to come third and have a chance through play offs to stay in NL A.
Actually, looking on UEFA website the first 4 matches are scheduled from 24 September to 6 October 2026. This is just crazy scheduling which favours larger nations who have bigger number of players to choose from.
We are being punished with the hardest possible group, after being gifted the easiest World Cup qualifying group in history.
What does not kill you makes you stronger, no?….. Here is to survival.
I love it! It’s a great prep for the Euros and the next WC.
In the old days, the HNS would schedule exhibitions vs patsies (and pocket part of the proceeds). Now? They actually have to play top 5 teams FOUR times.
I’ve always felt that the Nations League matches prepared our much weaker team for their 3rd place 2022 WC medal. We wouldn’t have done it by preparing against 60th ranked teams in exhibitions and winning 4-0, like we did in the past.
This will be a great maturing experience and opportunity for this next generation to see who we really are going to be. Great stuff. No lose situation. We already know we can play toe to toe with Czechia.
Getting out of this group won’t leave us guessing regarding our new developed quality, post Modric era.
Meh jebiga
This is good
Keeps us playing with intensity
Keeps the young hungry
They want a Chance to also play against and beat the best and it’s also in a less pressure then a big tourney
But why the heck do we non stop draw England lol
If our backline stays intact for the next few years
We can build greatly off that
With kova, sucic( maybe plural) and baturina
We will get a striker to emerge again
Guys it’s truly amazing to see what we can do with what we have over and over again
Sure sometimes it’s been ugly but there were many matches we played we should have won and didn’t and this is the game
We will be just fine going forward
Imagine we can really witness a gvardi and vuskovic back line at a team like Madrid
And potentially throw butter tart into the mix
This is not homer glasses talking
If we could get Stanisic a move with them one day too
Stanisic is not Madrid level but also maybe he is
It’s mostly only been injuries that has impeded him
He’s got the goods
Remember when he locked down mbappe
That wasn’t a fluke
He can do that and go forward
I really hope Stanisic can stay healthy. Let us see.
Hopefully Luka Vuskovic brother keeps training on the side, and he turns out to be as good as his brother in 2030, once the suspension is over in 3 years.
Maybe it is a blessing in disguise. Maybe Mario’s his body is even better in his mid to late 20’s without the wear and tear, than Luka body will go thru.
Suspension over in three years?
Mario has been suspended since late 2022.
He was suspended for four years, and it ends on November 2026.
This is why Luka wants to stay at HSV another season, so he can play alongside his brother.
……Nice! The Brothers Vuskovic. Sounds like a new Epic Dostoevsky novel, Volume II continuation to the original The Kovac Brothers
Yeah
I really admire how Mario really stuck to his guns
Claimed his innocence and didn’t try to say otherwise
And maybe luka stays there
It would show amazing character and this my friends is what we need
I can see the heart on my little phone screen according to the old Ziva istina days
The vuskovic bros may be the new better kovac bros
Vuskovic , Vuskovic, Gvardiol, and Stanisic will be the ultimate Defense Attorney Firm, and it will lay down the law. Can’t wait to see them all play together.