England vs. Spain: team news, predicted starting XIs, TV channel

England vs. Spain

• What: Uefa Nations League A, group four clash
• When: Saturday 8 September
• Where: Wembley Stadium, London
• Kick-off time: 7.45pm
• TV channel: Sky Sports

England are preparing for their first match since the World Cup but Dele Alli has already started looking ahead to the European Championships in 2020.

The Three Lions, who reached the semi-finals in Russia this summer, kick off their Uefa Nations League campaign when they host Spain at Wembley on Saturday evening.

Although Tottenham midfielder Dele acknowledges the Euros are a long time away he believes Gareth Southgate’s squad can build on their World Cup run and be a main contender in 2020.

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The 22-year-old told the Daily Mirror: “It’s a long way away, but our aim is to keep improving and be at our peak for that [Euro 2020]. We’ve got to give ourselves the best possibility we can.

“We have to keep learning and improving in every game and make sure we are ready for that time, because it’s a big chance for us. After watching the way the whole country got together and how much it meant to everyone, we made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup, so I can’t imagine what it would be like to win a major tournament with England.”

Confidence was high, he said. “I think we’ve definitely got the quality to win something and we can’t set any limits on what we can achieve. We feel like there is no limits, the only limit is what we put on ourselves which we shouldn’t do because we’ve got such great players.”

Southgate’s side face Spain in the new Nations League on Saturday before taking on Switzerland in a friendly at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

England team news

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling and Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana withdrew from the England squad because of injury.

Southgate is expected to pick the nucleus of his World Cup team and stick with his favoured 3-3-2-2 formation.

The Daily Express predicts that Marcus Rashford will start up front with skipper Harry Kane, while Danny Rose will get the nod over Luke Shaw at left-back.

Spain team news

Luis Enrique takes charge of Spain for the first time. The former Barcelona boss is without star striker Diego Costa for “personal reasons”, so Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas was brought in as a replacement.

Since the World Cup – where Spain were knocked out in the round of 16 on penalties by Russia – Gerard Pique, David Silva and Andres Iniesta have announced their international retirements.

It’s a new era under Enrique and he’s likely to choose a 4-3-3 formation, says the Daily Star.

Manchester United’s David de Gea should start in goal while Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso could earn his second cap at left-back. Alonso’s Stamford Bridge teammate Alvaro Morata is expected to lead the frontline with support from Real Madrid duo Marco Asensio and Isco.

Predicted starting XIs

• England (3-3-2-2): Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire; Kieran Trippier, Jordan Henderson, Danny Rose, Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli; Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
• Spain (4-3-3): David de Gea; Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcos Alonso; Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Thiago Alcantara; Marco Asensio, Isco, Alvaro Morata

How to watch England vs. Spain

Saturday’s Wembley clash will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event. Sky coverage starts at 7pm and the match kick-off is at 7.45pm.