Slaven Bilić faces scrutiny over Croatia squad selections

Croatia national football team coach Slaven Bilić faces intense scrutiny following poor performances, including a heavy defeat against England. Ahead of the Nations League match against Spain at Poljud, Bilić has made several controversial squad decisions.

Due to UEFA protocols limiting the matchday squad to 23 players, Bilić had to exclude four individuals from the wider 27-man list. Lovro Majer is the only player to be omitted for the second consecutive match in this cycle. Other players left out of the matchday squad include Ivan Smolčić, due to illness, as well as Franjo Ivanović and Petar Musa.

To compensate for these absences, Bilić has brought back Dion Drena Beljo and Ante Budimir to the squad. The team enters this fixture under significant pressure to improve their form and psychological state after recent struggles.