I WANT TO BEAT THE BEST
Trippier: After the World Cup semi-final we need to topple big sides like Spain to keep making progress
KIERAN TRIPPIER says England’s World Cup heroics mean they now want to beat big teams like Spain even more.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions face Luis Enrique’s men on Saturday in their first game since reaching the semi-finals two months ago.
A sold-out Wembley will welcome the side that did so well in Russia. But Trippier conceded England can only win over the doubters if they beat football’s global heavyweights.
The Tottenham defender said: “We’ve talked about the different teams we’ve played. We played Holland and drew with them, but Spain?
“We want to beat these teams, we want to beat the best and Saturday will be no different.
“So it’s an exciting one and we are all really looking forward to it, but we need to beat these sorts of teams if we want to be up there. Come Saturday, we’ll be ready and give everything to do that.”
England’s run to the World Cup’s last four consisted of wins over Tunisia, Panama, Colombia – on penalties – and Sweden. They were put out by Croatia and twice beaten by Belgium – once in the group stages and again in the thirdplace play-off.
Southgate and his squad have spent this week preparing at St George’s Park ahead of their inaugural UEFA Nations League match against Spain.
Trippier added: “The progress and the journey we went on was fantastic, but we were disappointed to get beaten in the semi-final, given the way we started. But we overcame so many obstacles in that tournament and we have got to be proud of ourselves. The nation and the players are back.
“We wanted to bring the nation back with the team, we wanted to play well. They were supporting us in numbers, especially at Hyde Park – it was crazy, the videos that we saw.
“We were happy to put a smile on the nation’s face again, but we have got another tough task ahead of us and hopefully we can make many more memories.”
Spain were stunned in the last 16 of the World Cup by hosts Russia in a massive upset. But they are still expected to provide a tough examination as England try to prove – albeit outside tournament football – they can live with the best.
Right-back Trippier said: “In the World Cup, you can only play who you are drawn against. Spain will be a big test and we want to play the likes of them to show we are here and we are ready.
“We know the quality we have in our dressing room and on our day we can beat anyone. You need to beat the best and Spain are one of the best in the world. We look forward to it, it’s a new thing and we are ready for Saturday.”