Spain v England: Combined XI (21st century)

Ahead of the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, we've put together a combined XI for the sides in the 21st century.

Of course, Spain's golden generation won three consecutive trophies while England's golden generation perennially underachieved. Nevertheless, the Three Lions have had a number of world class players at their disposal over the years - but how many make the team?

GK - Iker Casillas

Not just Spain's greatest goalkeeper, but one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the game. Remarkably agile with lightning-quick reflexes, Casillas was capable of pulling off extraordinary saves from point-blank range.

Having lost his place at Real Madrid in 2002, Casillas came on after an injury to Cesar Sanchez in the Champions League final, making a number of late saves to deny Bayer Leverkusen, but his finest hour for the national side came in the 2010 World Cup final.

With the game still awaiting a goal, Arjen Robben broke through, one on one with Casillas, only for the Spain skipper to save with an outstretched leg, as La Roja went on to win the World Cup.

RB - Kyle Walker

Although he can occasionally be caught out defensively with his positioning sometimes lacking, Kyle Walker's recovery pace means he's rarely been found wanting throughout his career.

His outrageous pace has also made him a potent weapon going forward, and while Walker's primary role is that of an attacking right-back, he's been able to play in a back three for his country when needed, and has been one of the first names on the team sheet for one of England's greatest generations.

CB - John Terry

One of the best centre-backs of his generation, John Terry gets the nod over the likes of his fellow uncompromising defenders Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol.

While you won't see many centre-backs shy away from tackles, you don't see many throw their head in the way of a shot while on the ground. Terry was consistently blood and thunder, dominant in the air and on the ground, and while he was never gifted with pace, his positioning and tackling meant it was rarely an issue for the Chelsea legend.

CB - Rio Ferdinand

Where would the tough-tackling, no-nonsense centre-back be without his elegant, ball-playing partner? Rio Ferdinand gets the nod over former Manchester United team-mate Gerard Pique to partner John Terry at the back.

Though Ferdinand could occasionally stray from carefree to careless, his reading of the game was immaculate. Rarely a foot out of position with pace to keep up with the world's fastest forwards, Ferdinand was also more than capable of building attacks from the back with his gifted passing.

LB - Ashley Cole

While you can make cases for a number of English and Spanish players throughout this XI, Ashley Cole is a no-brainer.

Like his opposite full-back Kyle Walker, Cole had electric pace, but had the defensive wherewithal to not be reliant on it. Of course, it came in handy when facing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was constantly pocketed by the former Arsenal and Chelsea man in their duels, with the impeccable timing of Cole's tackling a constant thorn in the Portuguese's side.

Quite simply, one of the best left-backs the game has seen.

CM - Sergio Busquets

One of the best defensive midfielders to have ever played the game, few played the game like Sergio Busquets. There are players who read the game well, then there are players who read a game from cover to cover before stepping onto the pitch.

Busquets knew everything that was happening - and would happen - at all times, and was a supremely underrated passer, capable of breaking lines and picking out team-mates many others wouldn't even be able to see.

Best summed up by former Spain boss Vicente del Bosque: "You watch the game, you don't see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game."

CM - Xavi

Part of the legendary Spain and Barcelona teams, it's inconceivable that Xavi could've ever spent his best years away from Camp Nou, but prior to the arrival of Pep Guardiola, it was the prospect facing Xavi, who was aware of interest shown in him by Bayern Munich.

When Guardiola returned to Camp Nou - this time in the dugout - the departure of Xavi was instantly off the table, recognising his importance in what he wanted to achieve at Barcelona.

Xavi was the ultimate controller. Never giving the ball away, but not just playing safe backwards and sideways passes, Xavi could split defences with passes through the eye of a needle.

CM - Andres Iniesta

You could make a case for six Spanish midfielders before you reached one who donned the white shirt, but it's impossible to omit Andres Iniesta. A toss-up as to who was better between he and midfield partner Xavi, Iniesta, despite not being blessed with notable pace, was capable of gliding past opponents thanks to his impeccable close control, balance and agility, and was able to put the ball on a sixpence from anywhere in the final third.

Iniesta for nine straight years was named in the FIFPro World XI and was named the Player of the Tournament at Euro 2012. Denied the Ballon d'Or - largely by Lionel Messi - Iniesta came fourth, second, fourth and third between 2009 and 2012.

CF - Wayne Rooney

The most complete forward while still a teenager, it will be a long before we ever see anything like Wayne Rooney again. An incredibly precocious talent, Rooney amassed more than 300 senior games before turning 23, which would go some way to explaining the decline by his late 20s.

Nevertheless, in his prime, Rooney had it all: pace, power, tenacity, intelligence, the ability to spray long-range passes and score any goal from anywhere.

Capable of operating as a number 10 or even being deployed out wide, Rooney could also act as an out-and-out striker, going on to become England and Manchester United's goalscoring records.

CF - Harry Kane

After Rooney came Harry Kane, and not since the days of Alan Shearer have England had such a natural goalscorer, capable of scoring 30-40 goals every season for club and country.

Never gifted with pace, or even being particularly strong in the air, Kane has always had incredible predatory instincts, constantly able to find half a yard in the area, and more importantly, find the bottom corner with regularity.

Not only has Kane been blessed with a knack for goalscoring that few share, he's also more than capable of dropping deeper to spray passes out wide and over the top, making him a deadly playmaker.

CF - Fernando Torres

Spain haven't exactly been short of world class centre-forwards over the years, but in terms of being a complete striker at their respective peak, Fernando Torres gets the nod over David Villa and Raul.

While English football fans will best remember Torres for his stint at Liverpool where he was so often unplayable, the move was earned with years of hard work at Atletico Madrid. Far from the Diego Simeone sides that would win trophies, Torres played for an Atleti side that bobbed around mid-table, never finishing higher than seventh, but Torres would score 13, 19, 16, 13 and 14 goals.

Upon moving to Anfield, Torres took the Premier League by storm, scoring ridiculous goals from impossible positions. Torres would bag 24 in his debut season, and though injury woes would follow, he still managed 14 in 20 and 18 in 20 in his following two seasons, finding the net in the Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 finals.