England youngsters bullish ahead of Spanish inquisition

WHAT with all the fuss over whether the team could wear poppies on Saturday it has been easy to overlook the fact that England face the toughest test in football on Saturday, when they take on world and European champions, Spain, at Wembley.

Perhaps the surge of national pride provided by the poppies adorning the players' armbands will lift Fabio Capello's men, but few give them much of a chance against the mighty Spaniards.

Jason Burt in The Daily Telegraph notes: "England will be without Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere and, unless there is a change of heart, John Terry for the match against the world champions." And he adds: "Manager Fabio Capello has been defeatist in his utterances to the Spanish media."

However, two of the younger members of the squad have been talking up the team's chances in front of a sold-out Wembley.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart channelled the nationalist spirit surging through the game when he told the Telegraph: "We're playing for England, we're a good, strong footballing nation [and] we're looking to win the game like any other."

Honesty crept in later when he admitted: "They're the best team in the world, simple as that. Of course they're going to have the best players. That's how it works."

Teenage defender Phil Jones, whose first memory of watching England was at the 2002 World Cup when he was just nine years old, was also bullish about England's chances.

"It is always good to test yourself against the best," he told The Times. "We know Spain are a good team. But we are a good team as well... I am sure if we get in among them and play the way we can, we will have a good chance."

He also made mention of the poppy saga and described the opportunity to represent England while wearing a black armband decorated with the flower as a "massive honour".

"When you think about that, playing football doesn't come into that category," he added. ·