When Luis de la Fuente’s Spain welcome Thomas Tuchel’s England to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid this Sunday, both teams will be hungry to cement their place as winners of their group.
Spain claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture at Wembley back in September, leaving the Three Lions determined to settle the score on Spanish soil.
With both managers leaning heavily on elite young talent amidst a demanding autumn schedule, Striver.Football profiles six standouts hold the keys to deciding the night.
England
1. Jarell Quansah
Age: 23 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 9 Bundesliga apps | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 31 clearances | 88% pass accuracy | 94% UEL pass accuracy.
Why Watch Him: Anchoring Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive wall, Quansah pairs towering physical authority with clean, composed distribution out from the back.
He has notched one goal, one assist, and 31 clearances in nine Bundesliga outings while maintaining a near-flawless 94% passing accuracy in the UEFA Europa League.
Fresh off logging 90 minutes and winning 100% of his tackles against Croatia mid-week, his aerial presence will be crucial against Spain's fluid attack.
2. Rio Ngumoha
Age: 18 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 8 PL apps | 4 UCL apps | 2 UCL Assists | 22 UCL dribbles completed | 87% UCL pass accuracy.
Why Watch Him: The Liverpool prodigy brings an explosive, unpredictable 1-v-1 isolation threat off the left flank.
Ngumoha has dazzled on the European stage this autumn, completing 22 dribbles and registering two assists across four UEFA Champions League appearances. Playing with an unbalancing fearlessness, expect him to stretch Spain’s defensive shape wide and isolate fullbacks late in the match.
3. Myles Lewis-Skelly
Age: 20 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 7 PL apps | 434 mins played | 94% passing completion | 3 Clean Sheets | 92% UCL pass accuracy.
Why Watch Him: The Arsenal prodigy brings elite press resistance and tactical versatility to Thomas Tuchel's setup.
Operating seamlessly as an inverted left-back or central midfield option, Myles Lewis-Skelly boasts an exceptional 94% passing accuracy across seven Premier League appearances this season.
His ability to receive the ball under heavy duress and progress play into central pockets will be vital to bypassing Spain's aggressive midfield press.
Spain
4. Fermin Lopez
Age: 23 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 11 La Liga apps | 7 Goals | 5 Assists | 19 chances created | 1 Goal & 2 Assists in UCL.
Why Watch Him: The Barcelona star enters international duty in sensational goal-scoring form, serving as Spain's deadliest late-arriving threat.
Lopez has exploded for seven goals and five assists across 11 La Liga matches, adding 1 goal and 2 assists in Champions League action. His relentless counter-pressing and sharp timing inside the penalty box will demand constant tracking from England’s midfield pivot.
5. Marc Pubill
Age: 23 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 10 La Liga apps | 1 Goal | 4 Clean Sheets | 38 clearances | 90% pass accuracy.
Why Watch Him: Playing on his home club turf in Madrid, the Atlético Madrid defender provides immense structural security down the right flank.
Pubill has recorded 38 clearances, 4 clean sheets, and 1 goal across 10 La Liga appearances while maintaining a 90% pass completion rate. His 1-v-1 defensive tracking and recovery speed will be tested directly by England's pace out wide.
6. Lamine Yamal
Age: 19 years old
Verified 2026/27 FotMob Stats: 12 La Liga starts | 10 Goals | 8 Assists | 995 mins played | 8.60 average rating.
Why Watch Him: The Barcelona superstar enters the international window in scorching, Ballon d'Or-caliber form. Averaging an extraordinary 8.60 FotMob rating with 18 direct goal contributions in just 12 league matches, Lamine Yamal remains virtually unmarkable in 1-v-1 isolation scenarios.
Whether cutting onto his lethal left foot or threading surgical passes into the box, his head-to-head battle against Myles Lewis-Skelly out wide will define the match.
What young players can learn from England vs Spain
Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez demonstrate how building intuitive movement, pressing triggers, and passing angles together at club level makes an attacking partnership almost impossible to stop for the national team.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s ability to seamlessly transition between midfield control and defensive solidity at left-back or at left central midfield shows young players that mastering multiple tactical roles makes you indispensable to top managers.
By resting minor knee discomfort against Czechia so he could return at full sharpness against England, Lamine Yamal highlights why listening to medical staff and pacing your body is essential to surviving a grueling 60-game season.
