Spain vs England: Combined XI

As the international fixtures take centre-stage this week, the whipping boys of England travel south to the Iberian Peninsula where defending European champions Spain are awaiting them in Alicante for a mouth-watering international friendly. Following their successful qualifying campaigns for the 2016 showpiece in France, the two sides start laying the groundwork for the tournament with a sizzling friendly encounter that is set to put their championship credentials through the paces.The Three Lions and La Furia Roja have not met in an official game since the 1996 Euro clash in the quarter-finals, where the whites came out top in the shoot-outs. Since then, the two nations have met in five friendlies, the latest in November 2011 where a Frank Lampard goal earned England a slender 1-0 victory at Wembley.As the swords are being drawn for an unprecedented sixth time, we take a look at an enticing combined XI featuring the best from Spain and England of today.

#1 Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

Spain legend Iker Casillas continues to rule the roost under the bar for his nation as the former Real Madrid shot-stopper is all set to put on the Spanish gloves for a stonking 165th time in his international career. Following his gloomy departure from the Spanish capital for a new sojourn in Porto, the veteran goalkeeper has been away from the glare of the public eye.

Nevertheless, Casillas remains one of the best in the business and it cannot be better summed up with Spain manager Vincente del Bosque still pinning his hopes on the 34-yea- old who has regained his verve in between the sticks after the debacle in Brazil last year.

The game against England should be a litmus test to his creaking legs against the challenge of high-profile teams and his ability to perform in the same vein when the tournament proper gets off the ground.