Preview: Spain v England

ENGLAND face a tough test tonight as they take on European champions Spain in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville.

The Three Lions will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions, since their defeat against France.

England have also won their previous five matches including wins over Andorra, Croatia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Their last game was in November, when Matthew Upson and John Terry gave England a 2-1 victory over Germany in the Olympic Stadium.

England will be without key players Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, which will provide the chance for Aston Villa duo James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor to show coach Fabio Capello their international credentials.

It was announced yesterday that right-back Luke Young will not feature in tonight’s match because of a toe injury picked up in training.

Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson is a strong candidate to play in his absence.

Aston Villa’s Emile Heskey is fit to play, despite not training on Monday because of an ankle injury.

England’s backline will be in for a busy night against danger-man Fernando Torres, aided by Valencia forward David Villa and Liverpool’s Albert Riera.

The magnitude of England’s task to beat Spain on their home turf is reflected by Spain’s unbeaten record, which began at Old Trafford in February 2007 - the last time the two sides met, almost two years ago.

The match resulted in a 1-0 win for Spain, settled by a goal scored by Barcelona forward Andres Iniesta.

That match has sparked an epic 28-game unbeaten run for the Spaniards since their last defeat, against Romania.

The performance will be more important than the result tonight, with England’s next World Cup qualifier still well over a month away, but there will be no greater incentive to win the match than to end a Spanish run which started on English soil.

On paper, this looks like a glamorous tie, but in reality, a showcase exhibition of glistening football may not materialise.

Fabio Capello has named a host of defenders on the bench and has an opportunity to experiment with different formations before England face the Ukraine in April, while Vicente Del Bosque, still new to his coaching role with Spain, will want to know his best 11.

It will be no surprise if the momentum is taken out of the game as both managers tinker with their team line-ups throughout the game.

England squad:

Robert Green
Joe Hart
David James

Wayne Bridge
Rio Ferdinand
Ashley Cole
Phil Jagielka
Glen Johnson
John Terry
Matthew Upson
Luke Young (withdrawn because of injury)

Gareth Barry
David Beckham
Stewart Downing
Frank Lampard
James Milner
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Ashley Young

Gabriel Agbonlahor
Carlton Cole
Peter Crouch
Emile Heskey

Coach: Fabio Capello

My starting line-up:

James

Johnson Ferdinand Terry Cole

Beckham Milner Carrick Young

Heskey Agbonlahor