Image source, Reuters

England manager Roy Hodgson: "We have a very strong group of players here, I hope Jamie (Vardy) recovers and he can play in the second game against France. There are a lot of players who have performed well since the start of the season and have created serious competition for places in the line-up.

"The Euros are a long way away, the matches in March will be more akin to the type of feeling we will experience in France, those games will help me select the squad looking ahead to next summer."

England captain Wayne Rooney: "I think we've all been here before, before major tournaments. We know we have a good, exciting squad but it is still young and we need to improve if we are to compete. This is what we are trying to do in training and these games."

On Jamie Vardy: "He has been incredible this season. It is a shame he has picked up the injury because it is a big chance for him to prove himself on an international level."

England manager Roy Hodgson on Stuart Lancaster's departure as England rugby union head coach: "I am disappointed for Stuart. I know him reasonably well and admire his work. It is not my business to comment on the RFU but from a personal viewpoint I am disappointed. He is a good coach and leader. I hope he finds a new job soon."

England captain Wayne Rooney: "It is a tough game for us against Spain but one we are looking forward to. We know we have the quality in our squad to give them a good game. Hopefully we can get a good result."

England captain Wayne Rooney: "It is important in these games that the manager has the chance to see as many players as he can before the tournament."

England manager Roy Hodgson: "We are going to use the two games to look at combinations of players playing together. It will be good to see how various combinations are developing. At the front we have Wayne [Rooney] and Jamie Vardy, Harry [Kane] and Ross Barkley. We will make changes. Wayne is with me today and is the captain in our team. But he won't start the game. We are keen not to fool people, even though he is sat alongside me today. That is down to looking at different combinations and he will start the game against France."

England manager Roy Hodgson: "Jamie Vardy is struggling with a knock he picked up on Saturday, we are monitoring it but it is unlikely he will play tomorrow."

Image source, PA

Roy Hodgson has started his news conference in Alicante...

Saracens back-row forward Ernst Joubert has confirmed he will retire from rugby at the end of this month.

South African Joubert, 35, joined Saracens in 2009 and has helped the club win two Aviva Premiership titles. He made more than 160 first team appearances. 

"I've had an amazing time at Saracens," Joubert said in a statement. "There is definitely a tinge of sadness when you make the decision to hang up your boots, but I am overwhelmed and joyful when I think of all the great memories I've made here."

Alastair Yeomans
BBC Radio 5 live

"We meet up with Roy Hodgson and Wayne Rooney today ahead of the prestigious friendly against Spain tomorrow.

"The match will be staged in Alicante which is also where the press corps is based.

"England's hotel is a little further along the coast, not far from Benidorm.

"Fortunately it's very quiet and leafy and far enough away from the resort for our lads to rest and prepare properly."

Image source, Getty Images

Responding to the publication of Fifa’s list of candidates for its presidential election,Clive Efford MP, Labour’s Shadow Sports Minister, has said:

“It is clear from the list of candidates to replace Sepp Blatter that Fifa has no intention of changing its ways.” 

“Only a candidate with no history of involvement in Fifa’s corrupt past will command the confidence of the football family so that they can introduce the radical change the organisation so desperately needs. It cannot be reformed from within.”

Image source, Rex Features

More sad news...with Queens Park Rangers announcing that their former youth goalkeeper Tommaso Trani has died at the age of 21 following a short illness.

The Italian was on the club's books from 2011 to 2013 and interim head coach Neil Warnock told the club website: This is absolutely tragic news. Tommaso was such a lovely, lovely lad." 

Alastair Yeomans
BBC Radio 5 live

"We are very fortunate to have our own room in which to interview the manager and the captain. Even better, we are the only UK radio station present in Spain for the game."

It was confirmed earlier that Musa Bility has been removed from the list of Fifa Presidential candidates because of a six month ban from all football activitieshe was given in 2013.

Bility has since released a statement, which reads: “I have received communication from Fifa’s Electoral Committee and I have been principally rejected because of my ban by CAF in 2013. I reject this and think it’s unfortunate. I believe that my decision to fight CAF at the time was a genuine attempt to change African football and prevent rules from being arbitrarily violated. On the merit of the Fifa decision, I am awaiting the review by my team of lawyers to determine my next course of action.” 

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Following on from the news that Manchester United have announced a 39.3% increase in overall first quarter revenue to £123.6m...

"United lost £7.4m on the sale of Angel di Maria, Robin van Persie and Nani. This loss – reduced by the sale of Javier Hernandez – is a loss against the balance sheet value of the player, which depreciates over the course of their contract, rather than what they paid for him.

"In Di Maria’s case, they paid 75m Euros and sold for 60m Euros."

Image source, PA

It remains goalless in England Under-21s' European Championship qualifying game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. James Ward-Prowse and Lewis Baker have both gone close for the away side, who have also had a penalty shout turned down for a foul on Dom Solanke.

Sunderland have released a statement, paying tribute to former goalkeeper Marton Fulop, who died today at the age of 32.

Fulop, who had battled cancer in recent years, played for the Black Cats between 2006 and 2010.

The club’s chief executive Margaret Byrne, who organised for Fulop to attend the 2014 Capital One Cup final, in which Sunderland played another of his former clubs, Manchester City, said: “We are devastated to hear of Marton’s passing. He was a genuinely lovely man, liked and respected by everyone at the club during his four years with us.

“It is desperately sad when we lose a member of our Sunderland family but to lose one so young and in such circumstances is simply heart-breaking.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Marton’s family and friends at this terribly sad time.”

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

"Manchester United report a 39.3% increase in overall first quarter revenue to 30 September to £123.6m.

"The club expect overall revenue for the year to be between £500m and £510m (no club has exceeded £500m before)."

Image source, AFP

Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been discharged from hospital after what was described as a "small emotional breakdown".

Blatter, 79, who has led world football's governing body for 18 years, wasprovisionally suspended for 90 days last month amid a corruption scandal.

He was admitted last week, initially for a check-up, said his former publicist Klaus Stoelhker.

"He is very happy and he is relaxing a few days," he said.