Lamine Yamal scored two goals and set up another as Spain hammered Croatia 4-1 on Tuesday in their first home game since lifting the World Cup. The teenager struck within 75 seconds at the packed Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to take his international tally to nine goals in 36 appearances. Croatia equalised through Dion Beljo's header before half-time but Marc Pubill restored Spain's lead two minutes later, heading home Yamal's pinpoint cross. Yamal then beat Barcelona teammate Dominik Livakovic at his near post on 63 minutes before Nico Williams added a fourth late on. Spain captain Rodri showed off the World Cup trophy before kick-off, receiving it from Sevilla legend Jesús Navas. "We were very excited to bring the cup here," Yamal said. "To be able to win the game and bring it home is great." La Roja next face Czechia on Saturday in Group A3. Yamal's performance strengthened his Ballon d'Or case with voting closed on Monday and the winner announced on 26 October. Elsewhere in Group B1, Slovenia beat North Macedonia 2-0 with goals from Sandi Lovric and Aljosa Matko. Moldova drew 1-1 with the Faroe Islands while Slovakia edged Kazakhstan 2-1. Iceland won 3-0 in Luxembourg and Estonia drew 1-1 in Bulgaria. Finland and Belarus played out a scoreless draw in Helsinki.
Source: The Guardian
