Spain playmaker eyeing up Manchester United teammates ahead of England friendly

Mata will come up against a number of clubmates at Wembley

MANCHESTER UNITED star Juan Mata insists England will be amongst the favourites to be crowned European champions next summer.

 

The words of encouragement arrived as the Three Lions prepare to face Mata's Spain in Alicante on Friday night in a high profile friendly.
That is followed four nights later by the Wembley visit of Euro 2016 hosts France ­two games which will strike England right between the eyes following their comfortable qualification.
But Mata, who is amongst seven Premier League based stars in the Spanish squad, believes England are capable of delivering.

"Friday night is an exciting game for us to be playing England," he admitted. "England in my opinion will be challenging for the title in France next summer .The way they played in the qualifiers and the players they have I think for us it is a very good test.
"England is a very good team. They had a great Euro qualification with no mistakes, all wins, so it will be very tough."
Spain are the reigning European champions but endured a disappointing World Cup in Brazil, failing to qualify from their group.
But Mata believes the transition with players like Chelsea par Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, Old Trafford team-mate David de Gea, is looking good.

 

Smalling will probably be charge with keeping Mata and co quiet on Friday

"Obviously it's a new generation with new, young players coming on like England but I think we have the quality to be fighting for the trophy," he added.  "We have a few important players who have now gone but I think the quality and the passion is still there."

He has revealed that there has been plenty of banter with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Michael Carrick who are in the Spain bound England squad.

Mata said: "It is a special game for me personally because I am playing in England and I know all the lads.

"The Manchester United lads have told me they have analysed the Spain team. They know how we play and they can beat us! So let¹s see who wins."

United defender Smalling has looked the real deal for both club and country this season and aims to continue his development in the stiff double header.

He added: "They¹re big tests. Everyone knew that in our group we took control early and the matches were the not the games that will win you tournaments.

"The games coming up now and then in March (against Germany) are ones where you can really test yourself leading up to the summer. They are the benchmark.

 

"We have done quite well against lesser teams and it is a case of matching it against the top teams. These are the ones we are looking forward to playing."

Smalling believes the fact that the Old Trafford dressing room contains an assortment of top international players from around the world is a fantastic learning curve for a young ambitious player like himself.

He also insists there is respect from the foreign contingent over England¹s standing in the game.

"They've got a high regard because they know what talent we have in this country because they come up against it every week. We might not have proven ourselves in tournaments but we still put a lot of fear into top players," Smalling added.

Smalling knows that the two games against Spain and France are ones no player wants to miss out on.

The Manchester United players will report for international duty with their manager Louis van Gaal's blessing.

"I think our manager Louis van Gaal  will have a keen eye when we are playing Spain because he is interested in top level football and will want us to test ourselves. He is also a former international manager so that shouldn't be a problem for us.

"I don't think they can be regarded as friendlies, especially because after this we don't have a game until March. So if you don¹t do well in those two games you have a long time to think about it over the course of the season. There is a lot to play for."