CORNERFLICK
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has labelled Thursday’s meeting with England his side’s hardest test in the Nations League, with the defending world champions still unbeaten in the competition.
De la Fuente eyes another record
De la Fuente said the margins between the world’s top sides are small and that any team can win a one-off match. He added that Spain’s 44-game unbeaten run is a record he would like to extend.
"We will play with everything we have to try to win this match," he said.
Rice warns against focusing on Yamal
England midfielder Declan Rice said his side will not build its game plan around Lamine Yamal alone, pointing out that Spain have 10 other players who are world champions. He described Yamal as an extraordinary player and said Harry Kane deserved the Ballon d'Or.
Spain top the group on 15 points, with England second on 12. Croatia are third on three points and the Czech Republic are bottom without a point. England's only defeat in this phase came against Spain in the first meeting.