Nations League Opener
England host world champions Spain at Wembley to open their Nations League campaign.
Anonymous
England host reigning world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday to open their Nations League campaign, their first meeting since England’s World Cup semi-final defeat. Spain return to action after their triumph, with coach Luis de la Fuente urging his team to keep improving; he recently extended his contract through 2032. England manager Thomas Tuchel faces a depleted squad after Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo withdrew because of injuries or fitness concerns, with James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White called up as replacements. Tuchel will also be seeking a response to scrutiny over his late defensive substitutions in the previous meeting. England’s demanding run includes two matches against Croatia and one against Czechia.
Key Points
1
Bukayo Saka said the World Cup semi-final defeat still affects England: “there’s still a scar in us.”
2
England lost their World Cup semi-final to Argentina two months earlier after conceding twice in the final five minutes plus stoppage time; they later beat France 6-4 to finish third.
3
England Under-19 players Kaden Braithwaite and Malachi Hardy joined the senior squad’s training session to help make up the numbers.
4
If Harry Kane plays in all four upcoming matches, he will draw level with Peter Shilton as England’s most-capped men’s player.
5
Spain held an open training session ahead of the match, attracting large numbers of fans as the World Cup winners prepared to return to action.
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