Tuchel says England must 'impose our strength' on Spain in Nations League decider in Madrid
Thomas Tuchel said England must impose their style on Spain when they travel to the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday night for a Nations League decider, calling the match a “final” and describing it as a “proof of concept.”
Tuchel introduced the phrase “proof of concept” after naming his squad on Friday, framing the fixture as the test of his methods as he prepares for Euro 2028 and seeks to move on from the World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina. England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday to keep a chance of finishing top of the group; the match in Madrid will determine whether they finish first or second.
Spain enter the game on an extended run of form having lost only once in 43 matches, that defeat coming on penalties to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final; technically it was recorded as a draw. Their current sequence began in March 2024 and, after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening World Cup group game, Spain have won 12 straight matches, including all five of their Nations League fixtures.
Tuchel has reshaped his squad for this window, naming only 11 players who were at the World Cup for the match against Croatia and hoping to have Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence back after recent injury niggles. He has introduced several new faces to the set-up, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha; Lewis-Skelly is available after a one-game ban against Spain, while Scott is out injured but was at Wembley to watch.
Tactically Tuchel has altered the team’s structure by giving Jude Bellingham greater licence to drift from the No 10 role, to overload on either side and to run on intuition, and he has encouraged other players — including full-backs — to occupy “out-of-the-ordinary zones.” Tuchel said the approach is “freer, more fluid,” with an emphasis on accelerating play through midfield while retaining principles of aggression, physicality, cover and high pressing.
Recalling the Nations League meeting at Wembley, Tuchel said England were almost overwhelmed early before stabilising and going 2-1 up, only for Harry Kane to miss a penalty that could have made it 3-1 in their 3-2 loss. “Once we got our energy going and played with this for the equaliser for 1-1, we were strong,” Tuchel said. “Harry’s penalty was maybe the key moment for us because we were very strong then and deserved to be 3-1 up. It would have been very difficult for Spain to come back against us. We had too many big individual mistakes in our own half on the night.
“But honestly, if you deeply look into the [Nations League] matches … Spain had some crucial ball losses against Croatia [in Split] and got away with it. They conceded some big, big chances and still managed to win in the end [with an 88th-minute Mikel Merino winner]. So no one is unbeatable. We’re full of confidence. It’s exactly what we wanted. We feel that we have something to take that we lost the last time.”
Tuchel acknowledged the mood around the team has improved since the first Nations League window in September and that he feels the group are prepared for the challenge. “Yeah, I think we’re there,” Tuchel said. “We’re ready to win on Sunday. I know what it takes and while no one can ever guarantee it, I think it’s the moment to check how far we are. And proof of concept.” A victory over the world and European champions at the Metropolitano would secure England top spot in the group and, in theory, bring easier opposition in the two-leg quarter-finals in March.
