Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has described Sunday's Nations League meeting with England as a clash between "two of world football's powerhouses". The decisive Group A3 match takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, with top spot on the line.
Group A3 showdown in Madrid
Spain won the reverse fixture at Wembley Stadium in September, meaning they need only a point to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners. England, however, could leapfrog the reigning world and European champions with a victory in Madrid, thanks to a superior goal difference and UEFA's tiebreaker rules.
Speaking ahead of the game, De La Fuente praised the Three Lions, saying: "These are two of world football's powerhouses. It's one of the best matches you can watch."
Players echo the manager's praise
Alex Baena, who scored in Spain's 3-2 win over England earlier in the season, echoed his manager's comments. He said: "I think England and us are the two best teams in the world on form. They're a great team, with a great coach, absolutely fantastic players and, on top of that, the Ballon d'Or winner."
According to FIFA's current world rankings, Sunday's match pits the top-ranked team (Spain) against the fourth-ranked team (England). The next official update is expected early next week.
