England vs Wales live: Team news and line-ups as Watkins starts for England after Kane ruled out of Wembley friendly – UK Times

Each of the last eight England managers have won their first meeting with a fellow Home Nation (excluding those that didn’t face one).

Don Revie vs Northern Ireland in May 1975 was the last to fail to record a victory (0-0 draw).

Wales are winless in each of their last 11 away friendly matches (one draw, 11 losses), since a 1-0 win in Denmark thanks to a Craig Bellamy goal in November 2008.

The Dragons have failed to score in each of their last 10 such games, going 938 minutes since last netting vs Montenegro.

England have lost their last two friendly matches, 0-1 vs Iceland in June 2024 and 1-3 vs Senegal in June 2025.

They last lost three non-competitive games in a row in 1985 under Sir Bobby Robson.

Wales have lost two of their last three matches (one win), after losing just one of 19 matches beforehand (nine wins, nine draws).

They haven’t lost back-to-back games since June 2023 (vs Armenia and Turkey).

England have scored in each of their last 16 games across all competitions.

It is their joint-longest run this century – they last scored in 17 straight between June 1990 and June 1991.

Can they extend that run tonight?

Wales have only won one of their 24 away games against England since the Second World War (six draws, 17 defeats).

That victory was a 1-0 win at old Wembley in May 1977, with Leighton James scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot.

The teams have arrived at Wembley and are about to head out for the warm ups.

Plenty of fans are here as well with over 7,000 travelling from Wales for this friendly.

Belgium the bigger game for Wales

Wales have only ever won once at Wembley – thanks to a Leighton James penalty in 1977 – and there is no doubt upsetting England in their own backyard would lead to celebrations from Aberdare to Anglesey.

But playing Tuchel’s side is complicated by the fact Wales have a massive World Cup qualifier four days later. Group favourites Belgium visit Cardiff with Wales knowing anything other than victory there will leave them in the play-offs next March.

Belgium is a far bigger game than England for Wales, and Bellamy’s team selection at Wembley may need to reflect that in some departments.

Kane eyes Latvia comeback

For England, just like Wales, the most important match of this double-header follows Thursday’s Wembley encounter.

England know they could qualify for the World Cup this month if they beat Latvia on Tuesday and other results in Group K go their way.

The race is on for Harry Kane to be involved in the Riga clash after the striker was ruled out against Bellamy’s men because of a minor ankle injury sustained on Bayern Munich duty.

Tuchel is confident he will be fit in time to face Latvia and in the meantime Ollie Watkins will be hoping to get the chance to stake his claim as Kane’s back-up.

Across his first two caps last month against Andorra and Serbia, Elliot Anderson led all England players for successful passes (182), possession won (23), tackles (5), forward passes (48) and successful long passes (10).