Djed Spence, the versatile full-back for England, made his World Cup debut against Croatia while wearing a protective mask due to a broken jaw sustained in a recent match. This injury, resulting from a "crazy challenge" with Chelsea striker Liam Delap, requires three months to heal, but Spence managed to contribute to England's 4-2 victory in Dallas on June 17.

Coming on for Jude Bellingham in the 80th minute, Spence's presence on the field highlighted his resilience despite a challenging season with Tottenham Hotspur, where the team barely avoided relegation. He previously debuted for England in a 5-0 win against Serbia and has been a consistent part of the squad since.

Spence expressed his determination:

It’s a little bit uncomfortable, but it is what it is. I have to wear it throughout the tournament, so it’s something I will have to get used to.

The player reflected on the incident with Delap, stating, "Yeah, crazy challenge, but it’s in the past now so just got to focus on this tournament now." He remained optimistic about his World Cup participation, emphasizing, "it was painful but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw."

Spence praised the belief shown in him by manager Thomas Tuchel despite Spurs' tumultuous season and eagerly anticipated further matches. England will continue their preparations with a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando this week, where the Arsenal quartet, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, will join the squad for the first time.