England manager Roy Hodgson earlier hinted that all the players tonight lining up against Spain have a chance to make it to the England’s starting eleven for the 2016 Euro next year.
The lineup for tonight’s friendly remains – Joe Hart, Kyle Walker, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Ryan Bertrand, Raheem Sterling, Michael Carrick, Fabian Delph, Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley and Harry Kane.
Again, it’s an experimental starting eleven with lots of opportunities but this team could get exposed in front of a very good well organised Spain.
Spain’s midfield bolsters with Busquets, Fabregas, Iniesta, Thiago and Mata. The danger surely lies here. The three lions could be left chasing ghost shadows and a defeat, despite in a friendly encounter, could knock down the confidence of the youths.
Many are already suggesting it’s a gamble which has been forced upon England manager as he is without the Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw.
It’s surely a big injury list, but Hodgson promised the England fans will see a completely different starting eleven next Tuesday against France when Wayne Rooney will be there and Jamie Vardy, the promising youngster also hoping recover from an injury in time to start the match at Wembley.
Right now it’s very much like trial and experimentation for England and Hodgson is making sure that he will have more players in hand for next year’s two important friendlies with Germany and Holland as they it will be a stage rehearsal for the coming Euro.
In the build-up to the last year’s Brazil World Cup, England played against Germany and Chile, but were given a shocking lesson, particularly in the hands of Chile. It really set the tone for the 2014 gala event.
After a breeze of a relatively easy qualifying Group, England managed to win all ten matches in the 2016 Euro qualifier campaign and they are right now full of confidence. But it should be kept in mind there were very few genuine tests they had to appear there.
Now Spain will provide one stern challenge tonight and if the Three Lions do finish the friendly unstuck then its worth remembering the absentee list Hodgson has in hand.