Spain to Face Colombia in London Friendly as Euro 2024 Warm-Up Begins

Spain‘s national football team, commonly known as La Roja, will kick off their preparations for Euro 2024 with a friendly match against Colombia in London on March 22.

This friendly fixture comes on the heels of Spain’s victory in the UEFA Nations League in 2023, propelling them back towards the zenith of European football under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente.

The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has forged a new partnership with ticketing giant Stage Front, resulting in Spain playing this ‘home’ fixture against Colombia at West Ham United‘s London Stadium.

The match in London, scheduled for March 22 at 8:30 p.m. local time, marks the first in a series of friendlies abroad as part of the RFEF and Stage Front’s agreement to internationalize Spain’s fixtures before the end of 2024.

Around the globe, football fans can catch the action as it unfolds, with varied kickoff times translating to different regions such as the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and India.

The lineup for Spain is likely to see some adjustments due to absences, potentially granting a debut to Barcelona’s rising star Pau Cubarsi in defence, while key players like Inigo Martinez, Ferran Torres, and Gavi miss out due to injuries.

Expectations are high for La Roja, with the predicted XI featuring talent like Simon in goal, Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, and Grimaldo in defence, and midfielders Ruiz, Rodri, and Merino, supporting attacking threats Olmo, Morata, and Oyarzabal.

Colombia, on the other hand, led by coach Nestor Lorenzo, are gearing up for the upcoming Copa America and will have Premier League stars like Luis Diaz, Jefferson Lerma, and Daniel Munoz in their ranks for the clash with Spain.

With both teams boasting formidable line-ups, Spain’s recent form, having lost just one game under De la Fuente, faces off against Colombia’s unbeaten streak of 12 matches, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting encounter in London.

Prediction: Spain 1-1 Colombia