Sports · Football · 5 hrs ago
England face Spain in key Nations League test
England face Spain in Madrid on Sunday in the final match of their Nations League group.
A win would let Thomas Tuchel’s side top their group and give them a chance to show they can beat the strongest teams.
Spain are the reigning world champions and have gone 43 matches without a defeat, making them a major test for England.
The match comes after England lost a World Cup semi-final to Argentina, a defeat that drew criticism of Tuchel and his team.
England are already set to reach the Nations League quarter-finals, but finishing top would earn them a tie against a second-place team rather than another group winner.
The quarter-final draw is scheduled for 20 November, and the ties will be played over two legs.
The quarter-final winners will advance toward the finals in June 2027, while England are also building toward Euro 2028, which will be held in the UK and Ireland with the final at Wembley.
England face world champions Spain in Madrid in a Nations League group match on Sunday.
The match is a major test of whether Thomas Tuchel and England have learned from their World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina.
Spain are unbeaten in 43 matches and have won their last 12 in succession, according to the Daily Mail.
England can still top their group with a win and are seeking to prove they can compete with the best.
James Trafford will start in goal for England instead of Jordan Pickford, Tuchel said.
- Who
- England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, face Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente.
- What
- A Nations League group match and a test of England’s progress under Tuchel.
- When
- Sunday evening; the exact date is not stated.
- Where
- Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain.
- Why
- England can still top their group with a win and use the match to test themselves against the world champions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spain last lost, falling 1-0 to Colombia in a friendly, according to the Daily Mail.
Spain beat England 3-2 at Wembley in the Nations League, according to BBC Sport.
England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley before travelling to Madrid on Saturday evening.
England arrived in Madrid ahead of the match against Spain.
England are scheduled to face Spain at the Metropolitano Stadium.
- Spain's unbeaten run
- 43 matches, according to the Daily Mail and BBC Sport
- Spain's recent winning run
- 12 consecutive wins, according to the Daily Mail
- Spain at home
- Unbeaten in 20 games, with 15 wins and five draws, according to BBC Sport
- England goalkeeper
- James Trafford will start against Spain, Tuchel said
- England's group position
- A win against Spain could allow England to top their group
- Nations League quarter-final draw
- 11am GMT on Friday 20 November
4 sources
England's Euro 2028 mission starts NOW! Thomas Tuchel's men must beat Spain to prove they can compete with the best - or risk their 'DNA' cursing them yet again, writes OLIVER HOLT
Spain test will reveal if Tuchel and England have learned World Cup lessons
Trafford to start in Spain - but what are Tuchel's other selection issues?
Who could England play in Nations League quarter-finals?
What people are saying
The perfect opportunity to try and prove ourselves.
This will be proof of concept on the highest level. It's the biggest test in world football. Spain are unbelievable on an incredible run.
Spain seem unbeatable
It's a massive game.