17 PL players to face England in Spain and France friendlies

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | November 6, 2015

La Roja and Les Bleus rosters revealed for England encounters

Spain and France have named their squads to face England, as preparations for Euro 2016 get into full swing.

All three nations have qualified next summer’s tournament finals, and the Three Lions will face 17 current Premier League players, plus plenty of former ones, in tough tests against La Roja in Alicante on November 13th and Les Bleus at Wembley four days later. Coral make Roy Hodgson’s side 3/1 chances to win the first fixture.

Spain select seven current English top-flight names in Manchester United goalie David de Gea, Chelsea full back Cesar Azpilicueta, midfield duo Santi Cazorla and Cesc Fabregas, and forward trio Diego Costa, Juan Mata and Pedro Rodriguez.

OFICIAL | Lista de la @SeFutbol para medirse a @england y @BelRedDevils / Spain's call up pic.twitter.com/raZ0cWGEyh

— Selección Española (@SeFutbol) November 6, 2015

Former Premier League centre half Gerard Pique and ex-Liverpool reserves utility player Mikel San Jose are also included on La Roja boss Vicente del Bosque’s roster.

Scandal means French aren’t at full strength

Euro 2016 hosts France, meanwhile, pool 10 in their ranks that are based in England; Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris, Manchester City defensive duo Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna, Arsenal centre back Laurent Koscielny, Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho, midfielders Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Morgan Schneiderlin, and forward pair Olivier Giroud and Anthony Martial.

Les Bleus also call upon an ex-Premier League which contains left back Patrice Evra, engine room pair Lassana Diarra and Paul Pogba, and maverick attacking talent Hatem Ben Arfa.

Au travail désormais, il y a 2 affiches de prestige à préparer contre @DFB_Team et @england #FRAALL #ANGFRA pic.twitter.com/h204oVfdoC

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) November 5, 2015

Didier Deschamps has omitted Real Madrid frontman Karim Benzema and diminutive Lyon playmaker Mathieu Valbuena, because of their involvement in a sex tape scandal and allegations of blackmail.

In-form West Ham United attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet’s claims are ignored, alongside Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.

Full Spain squad to face England on November 13th

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Porto), David de Gea (Man Utd), Sergio Rico (Sevilla).

Defenders: Jordi Alba, Marc Bartra and Gerard Pique (all Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Mario Gaspar (Villarreal), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid).

Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta (both Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao).

Forwards: Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez (both Chelsea), Isco (Real Madrid), Juan Mata (Man Utd), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Nolito (Celta Vigo).

Full France squad to face Three Lions on November 17th

Goalkeepers: Benoit Costil (Rennes), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma, on loan from PSG), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna (both Man City), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Hatem Ben Arfa (Nice), Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), Lassana Diarra (Marseille), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Morgan Schneiderlin (Man Utd), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United).

Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich, on loan from PSG), Andre-Pierre Gignac (UANL Tigres), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Man Utd).

Related

Check out Coral’s recent England articles in our archives.