By James Dudko
England will attempt to cement their top spot in Group E of the qualifiers for Euro 2016 when they face Lithuania at Wembley. But manager Roy Hodgson's plans have already been hit by mild controversy after his possible starting 11 was leaked to the press.
Meanwhile, Spain will be keen to redress the balance in Group C. The Spanish currently trail Slovakia by three points but will face a tough task when they host a cagey Ukraine side.
Hodgson has lamented what he calls "espionage" at the the training ground after photos of his apparent chosen 11 were leaked, per Sky Sports. Overly zealous photographers were reportedly culpable: They took shots of an England formation on a scrap of paper in Hodgson's hand, which showed Spurs striker Kane partnered with captain Wayne Rooney.
Yet whether Hodgson likes it or not, that's the strike partnership most England fans would likely love to see. Rooney remains his country's best player, and his form has been revitalised since being moved back into a centre-forward role with Manchester United.
Here are the full fixtures for Friday's qualifiers, plus live streaming details and predictions:
Euro 2016 Qualifiers for Friday, March 27
23:00 Czech Republic vs Latvia
23:00 Israel vs Wales
23:00 Azerbaijan vs Malta
23:00 Croatia vs Norway
01:45 Netherlands vs Turkey
01:45 Andorra vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
01:45 Belgium vs Cyprus
01:45 Bulgaria vs Italy
23:00 Israel vs Wales
23:00 Azerbaijan vs Malta
23:00 Croatia vs Norway
01:45 Netherlands vs Turkey
01:45 Andorra vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
01:45 Belgium vs Cyprus
01:45 Bulgaria vs Italy
Harry Kane in Line for First England Start
What the gifted 29-year-old has often needed at international level is a capable partner. Kane represents exactly that after a stunning breakout season with Tottenham Hotspur.
He's netted 28 goals in all competitions, according to ESPN FC. Sometimes when watching Kane, it's difficult to know exactly how he does it.
Are Rooney and Kane England's best strike partnership?
Ultimately, he's just a striker with a natural knack for manufacturing a vital slither of space in the box. He's also a player who comes alive the instant a chance presents itself. Rooney will certainly create a few chances for Kane.
There are always questions about England's forward line and how to get the best out of Rooney. Testing this potentially potent combination could go a long way to finally answering those questions.
Spain out to Prove They're Still a Force
A new-look Spain squad will be keen to prove they are still a force on the international stage after a dire outing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Much will depend on a batch of new talents led by Atletico Madrid's intelligent midfield general Koke.
The 23-year-old has been identified by Sky Sports as one of the young stars to watch during this weekend's qualifiers. One blow for Spain is that Koke and his range of passing won't be supplying former Atleti teammate Diego Costa.
The current Chelsea striker has withdrawn from the squad after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring tear, per the Spanish Football Federation (h/t BBC Sport). It will be interesting to see how manager Vicente del Bosque covers for Costa's absence.
One option might be Malaga's rising star Juanmi, according to Sky Sports. The 21-year-old has bagged seven goals in La Liga this season, according to ESPN FC.
There's sure to be a lot of focus on Spain following their struggles in Brazil last summer, along with the stunted road to recovery Del Bosque's squad has trodden since.
B/R's Andy Brassell believes the rebuild has picked up pace and the squad still possesses "immense quality":
Spain and England both have a lot to prove ahead of the big tournament. They'll each hope their latest qualifiers provide the chance to answer some of the doubters and show their potential to spring a few surprises once they've made it to France.
