- England full-back Djed Spence made his World Cup debut against Croatia, playing with a broken jaw sustained in a "crazy challenge".
- The Tottenham player's jaw injury, which was sustained following a challenge from Chelsea striker Liam Delap, will take three months to heal and requires him to wear a protective mask throughout the tournament.
- Spence, who provided an assist in a recent friendly win against New Zealand, expressed that the injury was painful but did not fear missing the World Cup as he plays football with his feet.
- Despite a challenging club season for Tottenham, Spence has remained a part of the England set-up since his debut last September, crediting the manager's belief in his quality.
- He downplayed a recent social media exchange with Arsenal players regarding their Champions League final loss, stating the team's focus is on the World Cup.
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