EXCLUSIVE: England's fringe players can stake claim against Spain, says Bobby Zamora

[p]Thomas Tuchel’s side face the reigning world champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=C42ySF3j"]at Wembley on Saturday night[/a] in their opening UEFA Nations League fixture, with several key players unavailable.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/livramento-valentino/fkessXOF/"]Tino Livramento[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mainoo-kobbie/nBy3DbC3/"]Kobbie Mainoo[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] have all withdrawn due to injury concerns, while Everton's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garner-james/zctP50uI/"]James Garner[/a] and Nottingham Forest's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibbs-white-morgan/beZNT1bB/"]Morgan Gibbs-White[/a] have been called up as replacements.[/p][p]Despite the absentees, the former Tottenham and Fulham star believes the situation presents an added incentive for fringe players to impress against one of international football’s toughest opponents and deliver a performance that could strengthen their case for regular involvement.[/p][p][b]"You’re coming up against the World Champions, who are the best in the world right now, so there is no more challenging game you can face,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zamora-bobby/6eGzyy0c/"]Zamora[/a] told Flashscore.[/p][p]"However, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] players who line up will have to know they can put up a claim for playing regularly with a good performance.[/p][p][b]"So, it’s a case of taking your chances and performing in front of the Wembley crowd. There is a big incentive for players who play, that they can stake their claim to be a big part of the England set-up."[/b][/p][video alt="England vs Spain (video preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="910ebaf7-9c36-470b-b730-1b9109174e4f" id="7655b6ba-77ba-41c1-b636-2b4f12eabbcd" /][h2]'No Rice and Rashford, no problem'[/h2][p]Despite the absence of several regulars, the 45-year-old has backed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Bukayo Saka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] to make their mark at Wembley, stressing that England still have plenty of attacking quality available.[/p][p]Kane has made an impressive start to the season with Bayern Munich, and Zamora believes the captain’s form can have a positive impact on his England teammates.[/p][p]He also believes a victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] could give the Three Lions a timely confidence boost as they continue to develop under Thomas Tuchel.[/p][p][b]"Harry Kane should lead the line for England and is once again in good form, so he will look to get one over the world champions for sure,"[/b] Zamora continued.[/p][p]"Given a chance, he will look to score. Kane is playing well at Bayern, so he brings lots of confidence, which can help the other players in the team for sure.[/p][p][b]"Other players who could step up include Saka and Gordon, who can relish playing against Spain.[/b][/p][p]"A win could then help confidence as England look to do well in this competition and then go on another long unbeaten run."[/p][image alt="Saka and Kane" id="ee60a582-0d7e-4dfa-836f-18f954d83a1e" credit-line="Martin Rickett / PA Images / Profimedia" guid="c8c7959a-1481-434e-b37b-d32e0b20cc5b" original-width="1400" original-height="969" /][h2]England must keep the ball against Spain[/h2][p]Spain, led by Luis de la Fuente, are the reigning world champions after beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] in the 2026 World Cup final, while England defeated France to finish third.[/p][p]The two sides have met 10 times since the turn of the century, with the Spaniards winning six and the English three.[/p][embed guid="7afea660-8c66-4349-9c1b-2f25d86945bd" url="https://x.com/sportingshina/status/2103493500293579254" social-type="twitter" /][p]Against that backdrop, Zamora has warned Tuchel’s side they must remain disciplined without the ball against their visitors renowned for controlling possession.[/p][p][b]"We know Spain keep the ball so well, so it's important that concentration by the England lads is high,"[/b] he added.[/p][p][b]"This is key to following the plan of the manager and concentrating first. Secondly, when you have the ball, keep it. [/b][/p][p][b]"Otherwise, it can be a long afternoon chasing the Spanish players around the pitch."[/b][/p][p]Despite England's absentees, Zamora believes Wembley could provide an advantage.[/p][h2]Wembley support could inspire England[/h2][p]Spain head into the game on a 38-match unbeaten run, with 29 wins and nine draws, the longest such streak by a European nation.[/p][p]They have won six of their last nine meetings with England, including a 2-1 victory in the EURO 2024 final and another 2-1 win at Wembley in 2018.[/p][infobox id="5a8fbd57-e97c-4bdc-9f6b-fb0fb254e893" /][p]Despite Spain's impressive record, Zamora believes England can draw strength from playing at home in front of the Wembley crowd.[/p][p][b]"(Playing at Wembley) is an advantage for sure,"[/b] said Zamora.[/p][p]"Home crowd will give England all the support they need, and the starting XI will know that they can really put in a big claim to stay in the team with a big performance, and the fans will support them. [/p][p][b]"So, it has its advantages for sure, but you are coming against the world champions, who will also enjoy playing at Wembley."[/b][/p][p]After facing Spain, England will travel to Prague to face the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/czech-republic-6LHwBDGU/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=AeCCmlWQ"]Czech Republic at Fortuna Arena three days later.[/a] [/p][p]They will then host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=p8cVmcQ9"]Croatia on October 3rd[/a] before welcoming the Czech Republic for the reverse fixture [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/czech-republic-6LHwBDGU/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=OvE4kA1E"]on October 6th.[/a][/p][image alt="Shina Oludare" id="77f4edee-493b-45e2-b24b-0d9a1e05766a" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="324191fd-58e7-4579-a4cb-d7e410ae8ef9" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]