UEFA Nations
2018-09-08 - England vs Spain
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Nations League
Saturday 8th September 2018 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
England
There was little expectation in England as the national team prepared for the World Cup Finals, but the run to the Semi Final has seemingly united the fans with the players. That was a bond that seemed like it had been broken for good, but now Gareth Southgate is going to be facing more pressure as England will expect as they enter a tough UEFA Nations League Group.
In a Group containing a European power like Spain and the World Cup Runners Up Croatia it is going to be very difficult for England to avoid 'relegation' from League A to League B. However that is not what the fans will be expecting to hear after reaching the World Cup Semi Final and actually getting further than Spain who are the visitors to Wembley Stadium this weekend.
England have only lost 2 of their last 17 games and both defeats came at the hands of Belgium in the World Cup Finals. However it can't be ignored that England reached the Semi Final by winning just 3 games in normal time of the 7 games they played. England are protecting a 14 game unbeaten run at home but they had been on a run of 3 draws in a row before beating Nigeria and Costa Rica prior to the World Cup beginning.
Luke Shaw has been restored to the England squad and looks a certainty to start as the left wing-back. Shaw is expected to be one of two changes made to the starting line up from the World Cup after Raheem Sterling withdrew from the squad with a back injury.
Spain
You couldn't have asked for a worse preparation to a major international tournament than losing your manager on the brink of the opening fixture but that was the situation for Spain. Even then the team underachieved spectacularly by losing to Russia on a penalty shoot out in the Last 16 and Spain won just 1 of the 4 games they played in the Finals.
Luis Enrique had a fabulous time as manager of Barcelona and he will take over as the national team manager despite being linked with some big club jobs in France and England. The expectation is still high for Spain with the clear talent they have at their disposal, but it is going to be a challenge to win this Group. The side do have the chance for a very positive start to the UEFA Nations League as they follow the game at Wembley Stadium by hosting Croatia.
Spain have not lost any of their last 24 games in normal time with their exit at the World Cup Finals coming on a penalty shoot out. However it is hard to ignore the fact that 7 of the last 10 games Spain have played have now ended in draws.
Diego Costa has withdrawn from the squad, while Jordi Alba has not been picked after falling out with Luis Enrique from their days at Barcelona.
Head to Head
Only 3 of the 25 matches between Spain and England have ended in draws, although the last time they played each other ended in a 2-2 draw in November 2016 at Wembley Stadium.
England have only lost 1 of their last 5 home games against Spain and have won 2 of those games.
Prediction
The UEFA Nations League has been developed to create more competition rather than the meaningless friendlies that have irritated fans and managers for a long time.
It is a new format that will take time to establish itself, but seeing games between the likes of Germany, France, England and Spain with something on the line should be a positive.
England have some huge expectations to deal with having overachieved at the World Cup in Russia, but Gareth Southgate has refused to get carried away. A young squad still has plenty to learn and they are likely to be given a strict examination by Spain.
Spain are entering the Luis Enrique era and they disappointed hugely at the World Cup with another Last 16 exit to their name after doing the same at Euro 2016. The football still features a lot of passing, but Enrique has been appointed to help the tam have more of a cutting edge.
That may take some time and I am finding it as difficult to separate these nations as the layers clearly are. England are tough to beat at home, while Spain have a 25 game unbeaten run behind them.
However Spain have drawn 7 of their last 10 in normal time and England have had to settle for home draws with Spain, Germany, Brazil and Italy over the last couple of years. The draw may not be the worst result for either team and I think a small interest in that being the outcome looks the way to go.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
England 1-1 Spain
