England will be hosting the current world champions tomorrow night.
It’s part of a three-week break that sees the Three Lions face Czech Republic twice and Croatia over the three weeks in group C of Nations League A.
England’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at Wembley Stadium, north west London, on September 18, 2026, ahead of their Nations League fixture against Spain. (Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images)
Injury updates
Thomas Tuchel will be without Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento, who have all been removed from the squad due to injury.
Lewis Hall is also a doubt after missing Wednesday’s training, but there has been nothing said about his absence since.
It has now given a bit more mystery to his squad selection, due to the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, James Garner and Trent Alexander-Arnold being added to the squad for the first time under the new boss.
Luis de la Fuente‘s side have the already injured Joan Garcia and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro unavailable for tomorrow’s game.
Arsenal’s David Raya is expected to come in and finally show what he is worth for the new manager, with former Barcelona and Manchester City defender Eric García filling in at right back.
The build up
The game comes at a time of growth for England, who had a lot of new faces involved in the country’s most successful World Cup campaign since 1966.
It will be a test to face the World Cup champions after many fans criticised the fact that England never had “difficult” fixtures before the World Cup.
Now, with a game in a major international tournament, England will want to prove to fans they are building on the summer’s tournament out in North America.
Tuchel will be looking to improve the defensive unity of the backline, who have conceded at least once in their last five matches.
Previously
The record between the two favours Tuchel more than De La Fuente.
The Spaniards may have conceded one goal all World Cup, but they will need to keep that up against England, who have won 14 of the 28 meetings between the two sides.
Last time out was the unforgettable Euro 2024 final, where a Mikel Oyarzabal winner four minutes from time snatched another trophy dream from England’s grasp.
It will be a tough test for the world champions coming to the home of English football, but the quick passing and big game nature of the affair could be Tuchel‘s side’s kryptonite.
Prediction
Given the serious nature of the game and the home advantage, England will naturally give a strong account of themselves.
The strong squad means it’ll be hard to stop the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice from running the show.
However, given the high morale the Spaniards have from World Cup glory, and the form that danger man Ferran Torres is on, a draw for me is the most likely outcome.
A wall for a back line, extremely technically gifted midfielders in Pedri and Dani Olmo, and the threat of in-form Ferran Torres and the best winger in the game in Lamine Yamal, it will prove a tough test for England.
A 1-1 draw will be the outcome, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net.