We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a Spain vs England combined XI, ahead of this weekend’s Uefa Nations League clash.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are from our predicted lineups for the match itself, using stats from their league seasons so far.
Goalkeeper: Unai Simon vs Jordan Pickford
Unai Simon’s compatriot David Raya may have recently been named as the best goalkeeper in the world, but he retains Spain’s first-choice spot. And he’s one of the best himself. In a matchup against England’s first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, there’s no contest. Simon has averaged 3.01 saves per 90 minutes for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga this season, more than Pickford’s 2.8 saves per 90 in the Premier League. The Spaniard has also saved more of the shots he has faced, at 75.56%. That’s while still keeping more clean sheets (0.53 to 0.40) and conceding fewer goals (0.98 to 1.0).
Simon is also better with the ball at his feet. While things are slightly closer with the passes completed (25.27 per 90 to 24.7), Simon is much more accurate, completing 71.07% of his attempts. It’s a similar story with the long passes, as Simon has completed 7.63 per 90 with 43.43% accuracy. The only metric Pickford wins in is his 10.5 ball recoveries per 90 compared to Simon’s 10.02.
Winner: Unai Simon
Right-back: Pedro Porro vs Trent Alexander-Arnold
A battle between two top right-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold just makes it into the team ahead of Pedro Porro. The Englishman has found his feet in Real Madrid this season, thriving under Jose Mourinho. He’s averaged 2.53 chances created per 90 in La Liga, with 8.09 crosses attempted. That’s more than Porro’s 1.35 chances created and 4.85 crosses, even with the Spaniard’s numbers impacted slightly by his game time.
Alexander-Arnold also matches up well in the defensive metrics, despite often being criticised for that side of his game. The Englishman has averaged 2.28 interceptions per 90 and 4.8 ball recoveries, while also boasting 81.82% success in his ground duels. However, Porro has won more ground duels at 3.77 per 90, while also making 1.35 clearances for Tottenham Hotspur.
Winner: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Centre-backs: Pau Cubarsi vs Aymeric Laporte vs Ezri Konsa vs Dan Burn
Pau Cubarsi is one of the best young centre-backs in the world right now and he makes his way into this XI. The Barcelona man is excellent with the ball at his feet, completing 95.44% of his passes in La Liga this season as well as averaging 30.04 forward passes per 90. But he isn’t just about the passing. Cubarsi has also won 72.97% of his aerial duels this season and averaged 1.61 interceptions per 90 — all more than any predicted starting centre-back in this team.
Ezri Konsa gets the other spot, more for his defensive work. However, he does sit second behind Cubarsi with his 95.09% passing accuracy. The Arsenal centre-back has made 1.97 tackles per 90 in the Premier League, with Cubarsi in second. Konsa has also won the most ground duels per 90 (3.94) with the highest success rate (76.19%). The other metrics these two don’t win in are ball recoveries and clearances. Aymeric Laporte takes recoveries, while Dan Burn leads for clearances.
Winners: Pau Cubarsi and Ezri Konsa
Left-back: Marc Cucurella vs Djed Spence
Another Real Madrid full-back, Marc Cucurella has seen a change in his game under Mourinho. While the Spaniard was known for his attacking input at Chelsea, he has been strong defensively in La Liga. Cucurella has averaged 3.23 tackles per 90 in the league this season, more than Djed Spence‘s 1.79. He has been very successful in his ground duels too, winning 4.1 per 90 with a 60.32% success rate.
Cucurella also wins for his clearances (2.59), interceptions (1.19) and ball recoveries (5.71) per 90. But it isn’t a clean sweep. Spence takes the attacking metrics, despite having an injury-hit start to life at Inter Milan. The Englishman has attempted 3.58 crosses per 90 and created 0.90 chances, both more than Cucurella. Spence has also completed 0.90 take-ons per 90.
Winner: Marc Cucurella
Central midfielders: Pedri vs Fabian Ruiz vs Elliot Anderson vs Declan Rice
With Rodri out injured, there’s a chance for the other midfielders in this matchup. And his likely replacement Fabian Ruiz has benefitted in more ways than one. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder flies under the radar a little bit due to his club teammates, but he has been a solid player this season. He averages 2.33 chances created per 90 in Ligue 1 this season, more than Pedri has managed in La Liga (2.18), and Declan Rice in the Premier League (1.85). Ruiz also leads this matchup for his ground duel success rate of 70.83%, and 1.08 shots excluding blocks per 90.
But it’s Elliot Anderson who takes most of the defensive metrics. He has made 2.4 tackles per 90 for Manchester City in the league this season, more than Ruiz (1.97) and Pedri (1.93) in their respective leagues. Anderson has also won 8.45 duels per 90, again more than any other midfielder in this matchup, and made 1.37 interceptions per 90. But Anderson is also good with the ball at his feet, completing 1.6 take-ons per 90. Pedri wins the matchup for ball recoveries (7.9) while Rice has the best aerial duel success rate (55%).
Winners: Fabian Ruiz and Elliot Anderson
Right-winger: Lamine Yamal vs Morgan Rogers
This isn’t much of a contest. Morgan Rogers has been one of Chelsea’s best players since joining in the summer. But that’s not enough to see him really test Lamine Yamal. The only metric the Englishman comes out on top in is his 0.51 goals per 90, compared to Yamal’s 0.28. That’s despite Yamal averaging 1.48 shots on target per 90 in La Liga.
But Yamal is extremely dangerous with the ball at his feet, looking to set up teammates. The teenager has averaged 2.01 chances created per 90 in La Liga this season, resulting in 0.41 assists. Rogers has created 1.73 chances per 90 with 0.10 assists in the Premier League. Yamal has also completed an average of 4.97 take-ons per 90 with a 55.63% success rate, simply ridiculous numbers. And that’s even with his 1.89 fouls won per 90.
Winner: Lamine Yamal
Attacking midfielder: Fermin Lopez vs Jude Bellingham
A Clasico battle for the No.10, it’s Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham who just about edges the battle. But Fermin Lopez gives him a run for his money. In fact, in terms of end product and goal threat, Fermin takes all the metrics. The Barcelona man has scored 0.81 goals per 90 in La Liga this season, from 1.51 shots on target, as well as creating 2.44 chances with 0.58 assists. Bellingham has only scored 0.38 goals per 90 with 0.28 assists.
But the Englishman wins on the underlying numbers. He has averaged 0.74 through-balls per 90 in La Liga this season, more than Fermin’s 0.70. It’s similarly close for passing accuracy, with Bellingham completing 88.72% of his passes compared to Fermin’s 84.81%. Bellingham has averaged 6.02 touches in the opposition box per 90, 5.45 ball recoveries and 2.92 fouls won, showing up everywhere on the pitch.
Winner: Jude Bellingham
Left-winger: Nico Williams vs Anthony Gordon
Another all-La Liga battle in attack won by an Englishman, Anthony Gordon takes the left-wing matchup against Nico Williams. The Englishman has started life at Barcelona well, scoring 0.26 goals from 1.71 shots on target per 90. Although he loses the goals battle to Williams’ 0.29, it’s a close one. Gordon is the more creative of the two players, although only just with 1.98 chances created per 90 to 1.9. But Gordon has the better assist return.
Creativity is truly where this matchup swings. Gordon has averaged 0.53 through-balls per 90 in La Liga this season, while also completing 2.37 of his attempted take-ons. His success rate of 58.06% is double Williams’ success of 28.21%. But, Williams may be hampered by the fact that he has won 1.46 fouls per 90. That hasn’t stopped him from averaging 8.33 touches in the opposition box per 90, though it’s not enough for Williams to win this battle.
Winner: Anthony Gordon
Striker: Mikel Oyarzabal vs Harry Kane
Nobody would have expected anything different here. Harry Kane is officially the best player in the world and has continued with a good start to the 2026/27 campaign. Mikel Oyarzabal, meanwhile, is a converted winger. Even though Kane has underwhelmed in front of goal in the Bundesliga this season, he has still averaged 0.5 goals per 90 from 3.52 shots excluding blocks. Oyarzabal has averaged his 0.23 goals from 1.61 shots excluding blocks. While he has the better conversion rate, it is still only 9.52%.
Kane has shone creatively in the Bundesliga this season. He has created 2.77 chances per 90 and provided 1.01 assists, popping up deeper and deeper on the pitch. Despite the tendency, Kane has still managed to average 6.8 touches in the opposition box per 90, compared to Oyarzabal’s 4.26 per 90. Kane has also completed more take-ons per 90 at 0.76 to 0.46, which isn’t what you’d expect against a former winger. The Englishman really can do it all.
Winner: Harry Kane
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