Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence has shared an emotional message after being named in England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Despite Spurs’ difficult campaign and limited minutes in recent weeks, Thomas Tuchel included the 25-year-old in his final 26-man squad for the tournament, ahead of several high-profile names.
The call-up marks the first major international tournament of Spence’s career, and the full-back admitted it was a dream come true after overcoming a difficult journey to the top.
Taking to Instagram, the Tottenham defender reflected on the setbacks he has faced throughout his career and revealed how much the achievement means to him and his family.
“I dreamed about moments like this. One of the greatest days of my life, to be called up to represent my family and my country at the World Cup,” Spence wrote.
“I’ve been down a rough road. I always kept going, even when the odds were against me, even when no one believed in me, I never gave up.”
The Spurs defender also sent an inspirational message to young people from similar backgrounds, urging them to keep believing in themselves regardless of criticism or setbacks.
Spence’s inclusion comes after a challenging spell at Tottenham under Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian often preferring Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro in the full-back positions. However, the Spurs boss recently praised the defender’s mentality and character behind the scenes, describing him as a “great guy”.
The former Middlesbrough star will now hope to make an impact on football’s biggest stage as England head to North America aiming to lift the World Cup trophy.
After years of battling criticism and inconsistency, Spence’s call-up represents a remarkable personal achievement — and one of the brightest moments of his career so far.
