England vs Spain delivered five goals, two costly defensive errors and a missed penalty at Wembley on Saturday night, and it was the world champions who left with the points. Spain won 3-2 in the opening round of UEFA Nations League A Group 3, coming from 2-1 down after Harry Kane struck the crossbar from the spot early in the second half.
Lamine Yamal scored inside two minutes, Anthony Gordon and Kane turned the game around before the break, and then Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal made England pay. Spain’s unbeaten run now stands at 39 matches.
How England vs Spain unfolded
The start could hardly have been worse for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Marc Guéhi was caught in possession, Yamal ran through and finished past James Trafford. It was one of the quickest goals England have ever conceded at the new Wembley.
England grew into it, though. Gordon finished off a flowing counter attack that Jude Bellingham helped create, and four minutes later Kane’s header from a Nico O’Reilly cross took a deflection off Marc Cucurella and beat Unai Simón. At half time England led 2-1 and Wembley was rocking.
Kane’s penalty miss changed everything
Nine minutes into the second half, VAR sent the referee to the monitor and Rodri was penalised for a foul on Bellingham. Kane, one of the most reliable penalty takers in the world, slipped in his run up and hit the bar. A two goal cushion was gone in an instant.
Six minutes later Spain were level. O’Reilly’s pass back was cut out by Dani Olmo on the edge of the area and Baena finished. With a quarter of an hour left, Oyarzabal was released through the middle and lifted a calm finish over Trafford for the winner.
“We did everything today to beat Spain. Details matter on this level,” Tuchel told Sky Sports afterwards. Kane felt England “went toe to toe” with the world champions and could have won on another day.
England vs Spain stats and what comes next
Spain had 53 per cent of the ball and 15 shots to England’s 13, with five on target apiece. Guéhi, O’Reilly and Bellingham were all booked.
Spain and Croatia sit top of Group 3 with three points each after round one, and England are already chasing. Tuchel’s side travel to Prague to face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena on Tuesday, September 29, with kick off at 7.45pm BST (2.45pm ET). Spain host Croatia in Seville.
More international football: Kylian Mbappé gave Zinedine Zidane a winning start as France beat Türkiye.
