Modric and Rakitic test the new Spain UEFA Nations League - Spain vs Croatia Croatians will be La Roja's great enemies

A reunion of friends? Long-time teammates spending time on the field? Not at all.

On Tuesday, at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, you will be able to witness one of the best matches of the UEFA Nations League, as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic take on the new Spanish team.

Or at least that's what's expected when one team are the World Cup runners-up and the other recently demonstrated that the summer competition has been long forgotten after their dominant win against England.

Croatia won over the Spanish fans during the World Cup.

Players like Modric, Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, Sime Vrsaljko and Mario Mandzukic turned the Croats into a friendly team, close to Spanish supporters hearts.

They wear many of the colours of Spain's LaLiga Santander, especially with their two main players forming part of Real Madrid and Barcelona's XI.

Modric and Rakitic, besides being great players, have become firm favourites in their adopted country.

Football appreciated

Elche's stadium and the Nations League will serve as the stage for confrontations between players who are teammates at club level.

Some will represent the shirt of the new Spain while others will wear the a chess board of a shirt which has become a true symbol of good football.

And of course, the spotlight will be on Luka Modric, a hoarder of praise and recognition in recent weeks.

At his side, Ivan Rakitic, the perfect partner for UEFA's best player.

In little more than a month, they will go back to being rivals in El Clasico, each defending opposing interests.

However, for now they have a common goal that is none other than to defeat Luis Enrique's men.

For a couple of hours, they will park their friendship with Isco Alarcon, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Marco Asensio, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal, to defend the badge of a country that, with just four million residents and 28 years of history, made it to the final of the World Cup in Russia.

Rakitic had always played an important role in Luis Enrique's football plans during his time in charge at Barcelona, with the former Blaugrana coach demanding to sign him back in 2014.

Since his arrival at the Camp Nou, he's become a key figure for the Catalans.

Sweet moment

Modric, on the other hand, is experiencing the sweetest moment of his career.

Nobody except Cristiano Ronaldo questions the fairness of the awards he has been receiving.

The Croatian has already won the World Cup Golden Ball, UEFA's best player for last season and he remains the favourite for FIFA's 'The Best' and France Football's Ballon d'Or.

Removing the Los Blancos man from squad would come as a body blow to the World Cup runners-up, as Modric's talent can solve almost any problem.

On the other hand, there will be several Spanish players who know his style of play and what he is capable of doing when he has the ball at his feet.

For example, a simple movement of his waist is enough to throw several rivals off balance.

Therefore, Spain will be hoping they can stop the midfielder from creating magic on the pitch, a task only a few have achieved.

La Roja's three points earned at Wembley Stadium have given Luis Enrique's side some peace of mind heading into this match and after their surprise loss in Russia, they're looking to conquer the Nations League.

Croatia also arrive in high spirits after their worldwide success this summer, but without their key figures Mandzukic and Danijel Subasic, the bar has risen for Zlatko Dalic's side.