Croatia football updates: Smolčić sidelined by illness

The Croatian senior national football team faces selection challenges ahead of their match against Spain. Defender Ivan Smolčić has been ruled out of the fixture due to a viral infection. Smolčić, who has seen significant playing time in this international cycle, has been unable to train with the squad following the team's recent matches.

In youth football, the Croatia U-21 national team is preparing for their final qualifying match for the 2027 European Championship in Lithuania. Having already secured qualification for the tournament, coach Ivica Olić has decided to rest key players Toni Silić, Marin Šotiček, and Luka Vrbančić to allow them to rejoin their respective clubs, Hajduk Split and Osijek, ahead of upcoming domestic fixtures.