Thomas Tuchel has given James Trafford a surprise start in goal tonight as England take on Spain at Wembley.
Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento all withdrew from the Three Lions squad earlier this week, leading to late call-ups for James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Team news and squad updates
All 24 members of Tuchel’s revised squad were involved in Thursday’s session at Tottenham’s training ground in Enfield. On Wednesday, at St George’s Park, the only absentee was Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall.
England Under-19 internationals Kaden Braithwaite - of Manchester City - and Tottenham’s Malachi Hardy were on Wednesday invited by Tuchel to join in with the seniors’ training session to help boost numbers.
Selection and lineup
Tuchel was expected to go as strong as possible for the visit of Spain, with three more games to come in Group A3 during this extended three-week international break, including two matches against the Czech Republic and a trip to Croatia.
The recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only natural right-back in the squad, but Tuchel has instead called on versatile Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jarell Quansah to add more defensive solidity. Jordan Pickford has been dropped in favour of the younger Trafford, with Myles Lewis-Skelly also a surprise starter in midfield.
England XI vs Spain: Trafford, O’Reilly, Konsa, Guehi, Quansah, Lewis-Skelly, Anderson, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane, Saka. Subs: Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Scott, Chalobah, Hall, Branthwaite, Rogers, Garner, Calvert-Lewin, Gibbs-White, Eze, Steele.
Withdrawn: Rice, Palmer, Rashford, Mainoo, Livramento. Time and date: 7:45pm BST on Saturday September 26, 2026. Venue: Wembley Stadium, London. How to watch: ITV.
