Spain set to face England at Wembley after back-to-back tournament wins

Spain have won back‑to‑back major tournaments, but there is still one more to go to draw equal with the feted team of 2008‑2012. Luis de la Fuente recalled that immediately after the 19 July match, a veteran player approached him and asked, “Mister, now what? What’s left to win?” De la Fuente answered, “Bloody hell, the game against England at Wembley on 26 September.”

On a Friday afternoon at Las Rozas, the coach had just announced his first squad since that day in New Jersey. The selection is a familiar one, full of history makers, and of the 26 players from the World Cup only four were omitted. Marcos Llorente has announced his international retirement; Joan García is injured; Borja Iglesias, who always felt the likeliest to leave first, is not fully fit; and Gavi is suspended for Wembley, although he could have faced Croatia and Czechia.

The game against England at Wembley on 26 September is the next target.