England XI vs Spain: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Nations League

详细摘要

Three Lions take on world champions in final Nations League clash

Thomas Tuchel named a strong England lineup against Croatia and will do so again for Sunday’s clash with world champions Spain.

Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Croats at Wembley means England head to Madrid for a winner-takes-all affair where the winner will finish top of their Nations League group, likely providing an easier opponent for the quarter-finals in March.

Tuchel will be expected to keep key men such as Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham and his record-breaking captain Harry Kane in the starting lineup against Spain. Bellingham would have been suspended if booked against Croatia but avoided a yellow card on the night.

Arsenal centre-back Ezri Konsa and Inter Milan full-back Djed Spence missed the Croatia game but will be available in Spain, after returning to full training. All 26 squad members took part in a group training session at Tottenham’s training ground on Saturday before their flight to Madrid.

Tuchel has a decision to make at right wing where he will either stick with Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers, a goalscorer on Thursday, or hand Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha his first start for his country.

Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund, brother of Real Madrid’s Jude, is in the squad for the very first time at senior level. If he makes it onto the pitch for his England debut and his sibling also plays, it will mark the first time two brothers have featured in the same England game since Gary and Phil Neville in February 2007.

If Tuchel’s insistence that there is competition for Jordan Pickford in goal is to be taken seriously, then Leeds United’s James Trafford should be expected to start as goalkeeper after Pickford played the full match against Croatia.

Jarell Quansah could shift across from centre-back to right-back if Tuchel views him as a safer option defensively than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Predicted England XI vs Spain (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Quansah, Konsa, Burn, Hall; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

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