{"id":1496926,"date":"2026-09-25T13:46:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1496926"},"modified":"2026-09-25T13:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:47:09","slug":"england-vs-spain-comparison-matrix-combined-xi","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/england-vs-spain-comparison-matrix-combined-xi\/","title":{"rendered":"England vs Spain: The Comparison Matrix combined XI for Nations League showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to picked out an England vs Spain combined XI, ahead of this weekend’s Uefa Nations League<\/a> clash.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we\u2019ve chosen to compare are from our predicted lineups for the match itself, using stats from their league seasons so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford vs Unai Simon<\/h3>\n\n\n
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This was a close battle between two largely undisputed No.1 goalkeepers. Unai Simon remains ahead of David Raya in Spain’s pecking order, and he has had a good season for Athletic Bilbao<\/a> so far. But he gets pipped into this team by Jordan Pickford, who has had the better actual goalkeeping season. It was close though, with Pickford’s 3.0 saves per 90 minutes to Simon’s 2.9 the true deciding faction. Had it gone the other way, Simon would have made the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pickford also leads this matchup for save percentage, clean sheets and goals conceded, averaging 0.7 for the latter, compared to Simon’s 1.0. The Everton<\/a> shot-stopper also has more ball recoveries. But, Simon is better on the ball. He has completed 26.2 passes per 90 and 6.9 long passes, with better accuracy than Pickford in both metrics. However, the goalkeeper stats do win out here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Jordan Pickford<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Eric Garcia<\/h3>\n\n\n
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This is a bit of an unfair matchup for Eric Garcia, who has been playing out of position at right-back this season. The Spaniard is up against a natural right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has also found his footing at Real Madrid. And it’s pretty one-sided. Alexander-Arnold has averaged 2.6 chances created per 90 in La Liga<\/a> this season, constantly getting himself into dangerous positions with 9.3 crosses attempted per 90. He’s also won 1.3 on his take-ons per 90, with Garcia paling in comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It isn’t a clean sweep, though. Garcia excels in the more defensive metrics, as you’d expect. He averages 2.7 tackles made per 90 in La Liga, with 3.1 ground duels won and 3.1 clearances. But Alexander-Arnold does have more success in his ground duels, winning 87.5%. And he has averaged 3.0 interceptions per 90, with 5.5 ball recoveries. It’s been a good season for the Englishman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centre-backs: Ezri Konsa vs Marc Guehi vs Pau Cubarsi vs Aymeric Laporte<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Ezri Konsa has had a good start to life at Arsenal<\/a>, forming a strong centre-back partnership with Gabriel. The Englishman isn’t being overshadowed, getting in on the action with 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per 90. He’s level with Pau Cubarsi on the latter, and there are a lot of close battles between the pair. Cubarsi leads the matchup with his 4.5 clearances per 90, just ahead of Konsa (4.2). Marc Guehi (4.0) and Aymeric Laporte (3.8) aren’t too far off, and they also have their merits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guehi has had the best success in duels, while Laporte makes more ball recoveries than any of the quartet. But it is Konsa and Cubarsi who win out. Unsurprisingly, Cubarsi leads the way for his 27.1 forward passes per 90, as part of a possession-heavy team — while being the main man. Konsa only averages 10.9 forward passes per 90, but has an overall passing accuracy of 96.62% — better than all others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winners: <\/strong>Ezri Konsa and Pau Cubarsi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Left-back: Nico O’Reilly vs Marc Cucurella<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Nico O’Reilly has missed a couple of games for Manchester City<\/a> this season due to injury. But he still wins a tight battle for the left-back spot with Marc Cucurella. There isn’t much to separate the pair in terms of chances created, with O’Reilly having the edge at 0.6 to 0.5. O’Reilly has also been busier with his crosses, attempting 2.2 per 90 to Cucurella’s 0.7. And he’s completed 1.7 take-ons per 90, with Cucurella still waiting for his first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cucurella has been the more defensive-minded left-back, though. The Spaniard has averaged 2.8 tackles made per 90, much more than O’Reilly’s 1.7. However, O’Reilly has won more ground duels at 3.3 to 3.2. Cucurella has the better success, though, winning 65.22% of his ground duels. By comparison, O’Reilly has only won 31.58%. Cucurella has also been busier with his clearances and interceptions, though not enough to win the battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Nico O’Reilly<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Central midfielders: Elliot Anderson vs Rodri vs Pedri<\/h3>\n\n\n
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It’s no surprise to see Rodri as the best midfielder here, by some distance. The Spaniard has continued at his high level after switching Manchester for Barcelona, maintaining his spot as one of the best midfielders in the world. Known for his passing, Rodri has completed 93.86% of his attempts so far this season. And they haven’t been safe either, with 23.1 forward passes per 90 — though he is beaten by his replacement Elliot Anderson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Englishman has won the most duels at 7.4 per 90, more than Rodri’s 4.3 and Pedri’s 3.3. But Rodri is more success in his duels, both in the air and on the ground. Rodri has also made more clearances (2.1) and interceptions (2.3) than either of his positional peers. The only metric in which Pedri emerged victorious was his 7.8 ball recoveries, with Rodri (6.1) ranking second. Pedri and Rodri have worked well together as a duo for Barcelona<\/a>, but Anderson breaks the pair in our XI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winners: <\/strong>Rodri and Elliot Anderson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right-winger: Bukayo Saka vs Lamine Yamal<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Bukayo Saka has come under fire from some Arsenal fans this season, but he has performed well. Even then, though, he is unable to match up to Lamine Yamal who has been one of Europe’s best players. He is one of only two players to have been directly involved in more than 10 goals, scoring seven and providing four assists. They’ve come at 1.1 and 0.7 per 90, respectively, with Saka not doing too badly for his 0.7 goals per 90. But Yamal has had more shots on target (2.2 to 2.0) and created more chances (4.2 to 1.6) per 90 than Saka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yamal has also been better all-round when on the ball. He has completed 58% of his take-ons, with 4.5 per 90. Saka, meanwhile, has completed 50% of his take-ons but only 1.6 per 90. Part of that, though, will be because Saka is fouled more often. The Englishman has won 3.3 fouls per 90, almost double Yamal’s 1.8. But Yamal has been more dangerous in the key areas, with 11 touches in the opposition box per 90 and 2.1 through-balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Lamine Yamal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attacking midfielder: Jude Bellingham vs Morgan Rogers vs Dani Olmo<\/h3>\n\n\n
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England could play in a 4-3-3 with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers as attacking No.8s. But both are better known for their attacking roles, as so we’ve placed them alongside Dani Olmo for a No.10. It’s a close battle for the two La Liga men, and it’s one Bellingham just edges. Although Rogers is the better scorer, with 0.7 goals per 90 to Bellingham’s 0.6, the Real Madrid<\/a> man has hit the target 1.2 times per 90. Rogers has hit the target 1.1 times per 90, while Olmo trails on 0.7 shots on target per 90, with no goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Olmo has been the most creative player. He has averaged 1.1 assists per 90 in La Liga from 4.2 chances, blowing both of his positional peers away. Bellingham ranks second in both metrics, with 2.8 chances created bringing 0.4 assists per 90. It’s easy to see why Olmo has been so good, with his 1.1 through-balls per 90 and 95.31% passing accuracy. Bellingham, again, has been a close second. And the Real Madrid has been better for take-ons, touches in the opposition box and fouls won, alongside ball recoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Jude Bellingham<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Left-winger: Anthony Gordon vs Nico Williams<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Barcelona’s new signing Anthony Gordon wins the battle of the left wing, up against Nico Williams. Both playing in La Liga, Gordon has averaged 1.0 shots on target per 90, although he is yet to score a goal. Williams has only averaged 0.5 shots on target per 90, but that has resulted in 0.3 goals. It’s the reverse for setting up goals. Williams is yet to provide an assist from his 1.8 chances created per 90, while Gordon has provided 1.0 assists per 90 from 1.6 chances created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you get into the deeper metrics, Gordon comes out on top. He is more involved deeper on the pitch, averaging 0.5 through-balls per 90 while Williams is yet to make one. Gordon has also completed 2.8 take-ons per 90, with 60% success rate. Williams, meanwhile, has only completed 1.5 take-ons per 90, with a low success rate of 27.27%. Gordon has also won slightly more fouls per 90, though that can sometimes be down to how players are refereed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Anthony Gordon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Striker: Harry Kane vs Mikel Oyarzabal<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Nobody would have expected anything different here. Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world, while Mikel Oyarzabal is a converted winger. Kane wins every metric here bar one, but even then the pair are level on 0.4 assists per 90. And Kane has been more creative, with 2.5 chances created per 90 — owing to his tendency to drop deeper. Despite the tendency, Kane has still managed to average 7.7 touches in the opposition box per 90, compared to Oyarzabal’s 4.4 per 90.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oyarzabal is yet to score a goal in La Liga, despite hitting the target with 1.0 of his 1.6 shots per 90. Kane, on the other hand, has been clinical. The Englishman has averaged 2.5 shots per 90, hitting the target 1.6 times. From those efforts, Kane has scored 1.0 goals per 90, for an impressive conversion rate of 18.75%. Kane has also completed more take-ons and won per fouls than Oyarzabal, proving that he can do it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: <\/strong>Harry Kane<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n