Spain's Dani Carvajal Leads La Roja Into UEFA Nations League Title Defense

Just over seven weeks on from their Euro 2024 triumph, Spain travel to the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade to face Serbia in their opening match of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League on Thursday night.

La Roja are the defending champions of the Nations League and, along with Serbia, will compete in League A Group 4 with Denmark and Switzerland.

Spain are preparing for their first fixture since beating England 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14 - becoming the first nation to win the competition four times.

La Roja were by far and away the standout performers on the continent and deservedly triumphed in Germany. Not only did they become the first European nation to win all seven matches at a major tournament (Euros and World Cup), they also scored more goals (15) than any other team in Euros history.

Luis de la Fuente has won 17 of his 21 matches as Spain head coach since taking the reins in December 2022, and Euro 2024 represents his second major title having previously steered his country to glory at the 2022-23 Nations League.

Indeed, Spain finished top of their group ahead of Portugal, Switzerland and Czech Republic after accumulating 11 points from six games, before beating Italy in the semi-finals and Croatia on penalties in the final following a 0-0 draw.

Ranked third in the world by FIFA, Spain will be regarded as favourites to top League A Group 4 this time around, and they begin their campaign against a Serbia side whom they have only previously faced on one occasion - winning a friendly 2-0 back in May 2012.

Serbia competed at the European Championship this summer as an independent nation for the first time since 2000 and they were tipped by many to progress beyond the group stage, but they ultimately flattered to deceive.

Indeed, Dragan Stojkovic has now failed to win any of his six matches in charge of Serbia at major tournaments, with the Eagles finishing bottom of Group C at Euro 2024 after picking up just two points from games against England, Denmark and Slovenia.

Serbia had more joy in their previous Nations League campaign, though, as they secured promotion to League A after winning four of their six matches to finish top of League B Group 4 ahead of Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.

Ranked 32nd in the world by FIFA, Serbia have in fact progressed from League C to League A within the last three Nations League tournaments and boast a record of nine wins, six draws and only three defeats.

The Eagles may find it challenging to top League A Group 4 this time around, though, and face a difficult opening fixture on Thursday against Spain, who have only lost two of their last 21 internationals since the beginning of 2023.

Serbia will be without key duo Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic due to injury, and Dusan Tadic has retired from international football, while striker Dusan Vlahovic and versatile winger Filip Kostic are two notable omissions from Stojkovic's 25-man squad.

Five uncapped players have been called up by Stojkovic including Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic, Sunderland midfielder Milan Aleksic and Millwall attacker Mihailo Ivanovic, who will all be hoping to feature in some capacity on Thursday.

Luka Jovic is expected to start as the central striker in the absence of Mitrovic, while Sasa Lukic and either Marko Grujic or Ivan Ilic could link arms in centre-midfield.

As for Spain, Unai Simon (wrist), Mikel Merino (shoulder), Alvaro Morata (thigh) and Fermin Lopez (muscle) are all ruled out through injury, while 38-year-old Jesus Navas has retired from international football.

Star midfielder Rodri is yet to kick a ball for Manchester City this season, but he is fit and available for selection, while 26-year-old Valencia midfielder Pepelu has received his first senior call-up and is in contention to make his debut.

The absence of goalkeeper Simon could see Arsenal's David Raya handed a start between the sticks, while Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to lead the line in the absence of Morata, with support in attack provided by wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

Serbia possible starting lineup:Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Zivkovic; Samardzic, S. Mitrovic; Jovic

Spain possible starting lineup:Raya; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal

If Spain are to pick up from where they left off and perform as well as they did at Euro 2024 on Thursday, then they should have few problems coming out on top against a weakened Serbia outfit, who are missing a few key attacking players and may find it difficult to break down a strong La Roja side.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Subscribe to our newsletter Robin Le Normand (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Petar Ratkov (Serbia).

Martín Zubimendi (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Petar Ratkov (Serbia).

Substitution, Spain. Pedri replaces Fabián Ruiz.

Attempt missed. Álex Grimaldo (Spain) left footed shot from long range on the left misses to the right. Assisted by Aymeric Laporte.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Predrag Rajkovic.

Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Martín Zubimendi.

Substitution, Serbia. Petar Ratkov replaces Luka Jovic.

Substitution, Serbia. Marko Grujic replaces Lazar Samardzic.

Robin Le Normand (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia).

Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Robin Le Normand following a set piece situation.

Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

Attempt saved. Álex Grimaldo (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Kristijan Belic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Kristijan Belic (Serbia).

Dani Olmo (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Dani Olmo (Spain).

Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aymeric Laporte.

Attempt missed. Robin Le Normand (Spain) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Álex Grimaldo with a cross following a corner.

Substitution, Serbia. Kristijan Belic replaces Andrija Zivkovic.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jan-Carlo Simic.

Robin Le Normand (Spain) is shown the yellow card.

Attempt missed. Kosta Nedeljkovic (Serbia) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Ivan Ilic following a fast break.

Substitution, Spain. Mikel Oyarzabal replaces Ayoze Pérez.

Substitution, Spain. Álex Grimaldo replaces Marc Cucurella.

Attempt missed. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jan-Carlo Simic.

Foul by Robin Le Normand (Spain).

Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Attempt missed. Dani Carvajal (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a through ball following a set piece situation.

Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia).

Attempt missed. Ivan Ilic (Serbia) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.

Foul by Aymeric Laporte (Spain).

Ivan Ilic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Offside, Serbia. Luka Jovic is caught offside.

Foul by Robin Le Normand (Spain).

Luka Jovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Second Half begins Serbia 0, Spain 0.

Substitution, Serbia. Jan-Carlo Simic replaces Strahinja Erakovic.

First Half ends, Serbia 0, Spain 0.

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Strahinja Erakovic.

Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia).

Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia).

Lamine Yamal (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain).

Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nico Williams.

Attempt saved. Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ivan Ilic.

Dani Carvajal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia).

Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nico Williams.

Attempt missed. Luka Jovic (Serbia) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrija Zivkovic with a through ball.

Offside, Serbia. Andrija Zivkovic is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Ayoze Pérez (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dani Olmo.

Foul by Martín Zubimendi (Spain).

Luka Jovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt missed. Fabián Ruiz (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Attempt missed. Nico Williams (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Marc Cucurella.

Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fabián Ruiz.

Dani Carvajal (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Dani Carvajal (Spain).

Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Dani Carvajal (Spain).

Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain).

Veljko Birmancevic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Martín Zubimendi (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lamine Yamal.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Kosta Nedeljkovic.

Ayoze Pérez (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Spain).

Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Dani Carvajal (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Strahinja Pavlovic.

Attempt missed. Robin Le Normand (Spain) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Olmo with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Veljko Birmancevic.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Dani Carvajal (Spain).

Attempt missed. Luka Jovic (Serbia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.

Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Marc Cucurella.

Attempt blocked. Ivan Ilic (Serbia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Martín Zubimendi (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Sasa Lukic (Serbia).

Attempt missed. Sasa Lukic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Attempt blocked. Lazar Samardzic (Serbia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Strahinja Erakovic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.