England Fall to Entertaining Spain Defeat

England stood toe-to-toe with world champions Spain in their Nations League opener, but mistakes at vital moments meant they started the new Nations League campaign with a 3-2 defeat at Wembley.

A Nightmare Start

The Three Lions found themselves behind inside two minutes and the goal was entirely of their own making.

Marc Guehi turned back towards his own goal, not knowing Lamine Yamal was on his tail, and the Barcelona man nicked the ball off the defender before slotting past James Trafford in the England goal.

Ferran Torres thought he’d put his side 2-0 up in the eighth minute when he swept home Fabian Ruiz’s inch-perfect cross, but the linesman’s flag kept England in the game.

Torres was guilty of missing a guilt-edged chance midway through the first half when he was put clean through with only the keeper to beat, but the PSG forward inexplicably flicked his effort harmlessly wide.

England Fight Back

That miss was punished less than ten minutes later.

A swift counter-attack and good work from Jude Bellingham set Anthony Gordon free and he tucked the ball past Unai Simon to restore parity.

England were on the crest of a wave and were ahead moments later when Harry Kane’s header deflected off Marc Cucurella and into the back of the net. Thomas Tuchel’s men were in dreamland.

A World Class Spanish Response

England were ahead at the break and could’ve put themselves firmly in control when they were awarded a 53rd minute penalty.

Kane stepped up but rattled the bar with his spot-kick and the world champions made him pay.

Nico O’Reilly played himself into trouble deep in his own half and Alex Baena found enough space on the edge of the area to curl a lovely effort past Trafford to leave us level once again.

And Baena turned provider for the winner as he slid in Mikel Oyarzabal for the forward to clip home a composed finish.

Bellingham forced a smart save from Simon with the final attack of the game, but despite an entertaining showing, England find themselves bottom of League A3 ahead of a trip to the Czech Republic on Tuesday.