England vs Spain: Tuchel Says England "Have a Plan" for World Champions at Wembley
Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane explain how England intend to take on world champions Spain at Wembley, with kick-off at 2.45am Sunday Malaysian time.
England host world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday night in their UEFA Nations League opener, and Thomas Tuchel insists his side will not simply sit back and admire the opposition. Kick-off is 7.45pm UK time, which is 2.45am on Sunday, 27 September in Malaysia.
The challenge: an unbeaten Spain
Spain arrive in London as World Cup champions. According to beIN Sports, they are unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions, the longest such run by a European nation. England, meanwhile, finished third at the World Cup, their best result at the tournament since winning it in 1966.
That makes this a genuine heavyweight contest to open the new Nations League campaign, and Tuchel knows what his side is up against.
"It is so difficult for every single team in the world to create chances against them," the England head coach said. "We have a plan, and we have ambition, and we want to prove the opposite."
Playing to England's strengths
Tuchel does not believe England should try to beat Spain at their own game. Instead, he wants his players to lean on qualities he feels Spain lack.
"We have a lot of strengths that they don't have; physicality, pace and power," he said.
Kane: we can do both
Captain Harry Kane added an interesting note. Teammate Anthony Gordon had suggested England should give up on a possession-based approach against Spain, but Kane pushed back on that idea.
"It doesn't mean we can't play under pressure or keep the ball. We still have a lot of amazing technical players," Kane said.
"I think at our best we combine both. We're not just a team that play like Spain, but we have a lot of strengths that we can showcase."
Selection questions
Tuchel will have to reshuffle after several withdrawals earlier in the week. According to Yahoo Sports, Lewis Hall was the main fresh doubt after missing Wednesday's training session. Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner were called up as replacements, and England Under-19 players Kaden Braithwaite and Malachi Hardy joined training to boost numbers.
Yahoo Sports' predicted 4-2-3-1 line-up was: Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guéhi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Scott; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. The official team sheet is due about an hour before kick-off.
A milestone for Kane
There is a personal target in sight for the captain. Yahoo Sports noted that if Kane plays in all four matches during this international break, he will equal Peter Shilton's record for England appearances.
How to follow in Malaysia
- Kick-off: Sunday, 27 September, 2.45am MYT
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
- Competition: UEFA Nations League, League A
Check your local sports broadcaster's listings for coverage in Malaysia. PlayDash will have the result and reaction on Sunday morning.
Key takeaways
- England face world champions Spain at Wembley at 2.45am Sunday Malaysian time.
- Spain are unbeaten in 38 matches, according to beIN Sports.
- Tuchel says England "have a plan" and will use their physicality, pace and power.
- Kane says England can combine a direct approach with keeping the ball.
- Kane is closing in on Peter Shilton's England appearance record.
FAQ
What time is England vs Spain in Malaysia? Kick-off is 7.45pm UK time on Saturday, which is 2.45am on Sunday, 27 September in Malaysia.
What did Tuchel say about Spain? He said it is very hard for any team to create chances against Spain, but England "have a plan" and want to prove that wrong.
Which record can Harry Kane equal? Kane can equal Peter Shilton's England appearance record if he plays all four matches this international break.
Sources: beIN Sports, Yahoo Sports, ESPN