Spain Clash Offers England and Tuchel a True Measure of World Cup Progress
England’s progress under head coach Thomas Tuchel—and the lessons he has drawn since the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina—will face their most demanding examination yet when they meet holders Spain in Madrid.
Spain represent the toughest challenge England could encounter. The world champions are unbeaten in 43 matches, a run that includes beating Argentina in New Jersey in the summer to claim football’s biggest prize.
Luis de la Fuente’s side last lost to Colombia in March 2024. Since then, they have won 34 matches and drawn nine, a sequence in which they also became European champions by defeating England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
It is little surprise, then, that England captain and Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane describes Sunday night’s visit to the Metropolitano Stadium as “the perfect opportunity to try and prove ourselves.”
Tuchel, who confirmed that Leeds United’s James Trafford will get another chance in goal as he continues to alternate with Jordan Pickford, clearly shares that view. “This will be proof of concept at the highest level. It’s the biggest test in world football. Spain are unbelievable and on an incredible run,” he said.
“Spain won the last big titles. We are trying to take it away from them. We are up for it. We are in a good moment to push our limits. We are up for something spectacular.”
England midfielder Declan Rice echoed that message in Madrid, saying: “It’s a massive game.
“I don’t think you can get much bigger than a Champions League final with Arsenal or a World Cup semi-final against Argentina, which I’ve played in, but when you are playing against the world champions in Spain there is no greater incentive.
“It’s the sort of game that brings out the best in us. We want to play against the best teams and the best players. It will show where we are as a group. We’re going to see where England are at.”
Spain are especially formidable at home, unbeaten in 20 matches—winning 15 and drawing five—since a 2-1 defeat by Switzerland in September 2022.
England’s most recent win in Spain was a 3-2 Nations League triumph in Sevilla in October 2018, their first away victory against them in 31 years.
Yet England came closer than most to piercing Spain’s air of invincibility, even in a 3-2 defeat at Wembley in September, when a rare Kane miss from the penalty spot prevented them from taking a potentially decisive 3-1 lead.
Spain subsequently punished England and Kane, who will be hoping for better fortunes when the countries meet again in the latest Nations League encounter.
England arrived in Madrid on Saturday evening having recorded four successive victories since that Wembley loss, the latest a 2-1 win against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday.
Spain will present a very different opposition, but also a barometer of whether England have moved forward since the World Cup, when Tuchel was heavily criticised for what was perceived as a negative approach in the 2-1 loss to Argentina in Atlanta, especially after Anthony Gordon put England ahead.
