Croatia will face Spain in an away Nations League match. Ahead of the fixture, Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic gave an interview discussing national team captain Modrić, Manchester City manager Maresca, the Ballon d'Or, and Croatia's prospects against Spain. Here is the full interview.

How do you feel about facing Spain soon?

"Spain is one of the best teams in the world right now. They won the European Championship and play very good football. A tough match awaits us, but it's special to play against the best teams. We are really looking forward to this game."

Does Spain have the best midfield?

"Yes, they have one of the best midfields in the world. They have many excellent players, led by Rodri. I played with him for three years and know very well what kind of player he is. However, we also have our own strengths, and we hope to show them in this match."

What does Modrić's presence mean?

"Modrić is our captain and our leader. Both on and off the field, he is very important to us, and it means a lot to have him with us."

Will Croatia play differently than they did against the Czech Republic?

"You'll see how we play when the time comes. A difficult match awaits us. The opponent likes to control the ball and attack, and we also like to control the ball. In the past, when we played against them, we had some good performances and some not-so-good ones. I hope this will be one of our good performances."

Bilić called you a 'winger in midfield.' What do you think about that?

"It feels great when the coach calls you a 'winger in midfield.' I've never heard such a compliment before. It's certainly nice to be praised by the coach, and I'm here to prove that I deserve it."

Can Croatia end Spain's unbeaten streak?

"We certainly want to win, and we will compete with all our might for that. We won't play without a plan, but we will try to stick to our own style of play. The opponent is excellent, but we are confident. It will be a great match, and I hope the atmosphere will be fantastic."

Who are your favorites for the Ballon d'Or?

"As I said, Spain has many excellent individual players, but it's difficult for me to predict who will win the Ballon d'Or. Many players have performed exceptionally well this season. I prefer to talk about the team, so I don't have a specific opinion on the Ballon d'Or."

How are you getting along with Maresca?

"I'm currently focused on the Croatian national team and don't want to discuss the situation at Manchester City. However, Maresca is an excellent coach, which he has already proven. He has very good ideas and maintains good relationships with the players. We are happy to have him."

Is this the best Spain team in history?

"I used to love watching Busquets, David Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Fàbregas... that era of Spanish football. This Spain team is also excellent; both the past and present Spain teams are top-tier and have many great players. I really like Spanish football, but right now we need to focus on our own game."

Is beating Spain an 'impossible mission'?

"It's not an impossible mission. We know they've been unbeaten for 39 consecutive matches, but I prefer to focus on doing our own job well. We need to fight, show our character, and try to limit their most powerful weapon – which is ball possession."

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