“After all the setbacks he went through, Rodrigo is back at a high level. I’ve said before that he is the best in the world, but also on those same occasions that we are very fortunate,” said Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente, highlighting the importance of key players in the upcoming friendly against Serbia.
Spain will play Serbia on March 25, 2026, at Estadio de la Ceramica in Villarreal. This match comes as Spain prepares for their next competitive game against Cape Verde on June 15, 2026, following a successful qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, where they finished first with 16 points.
In contrast, Serbia, who finished third in their qualification group with 13 points, will not be participating in the World Cup. Despite this setback, they are expected to provide strong opposition for Spain, which is exactly what La Roja will want at this stage of their preparations.
De la Fuente also addressed the potential pairing of Rodri and Martin Zubimendi in the midfield, stating, “Can Rodri and Zubimendi play together? Of course they can play together.” This indicates a strategic approach as Spain looks to refine their tactics ahead of the World Cup.
Spain’s recent form in friendlies shows a record of WLDWW, while Serbia has struggled with a record of LLWLW. This friendly match offers both teams a chance to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
Spain’s possible starting lineup could feature Unai Simon, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, and Lamine Yamal, among others. Yamal has been particularly impressive, scoring 21 goals and providing 16 assists in the current campaign.
On the Serbian side, Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored 63 goals for his national team, is expected to lead the attack. Serbia’s lineup may include players like Milenkovic and Gudelj, who is set to earn his 75th cap.
The match is anticipated to be a competitive encounter, with both teams looking to build momentum. Spain aims to avoid the disappointments of the past two World Cups, where they were eliminated in the round of 16.
As the date approaches, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how both teams perform and what implications this match may have for their future endeavors.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final lineups and tactical approaches for the match.