England defender Djed Spence to wear mask at World Cup

England defender Djed Spence will compete in the upcoming FIFA World Cup wearing a protective mask to manage a broken jaw sustained last month. The 25-year-old Tottenham Hotspur player suffered the injury in a Premier League match against Chelsea following a challenge from striker Liam Delap. Spence confirmed the situation to reporters on Monday, stating the mask will be necessary throughout the tournament as his jaw requires three months to fully heal.

Spence described the protective gear as a little bit uncomfortable but said it is something he will have to get used to. He has been wearing the mask in training to acclimate, particularly to the heat, and already played with it in Tottenham's final league match of the season against Everton. When asked about the incident with Delap, Spence called it a crazy challenge but emphasized his focus is now on the World Cup. He said he was never concerned the injury would jeopardize his participation, noting that while it was painful, he plays football with his feet and not his jaw.

The full-back's inclusion in manager Thomas Tuchel's final squad came after a difficult club season where Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation. Spence said...