England 2-3 Spain: Report by Layth Yousif at Wembley Stadium
World Cup winners Spain showed their quality to edge past England 3-2 in a pulsating Nations League clash in front of 84,525 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
Sloppy play from Manchester City’s Marc Guehi leads to an opener for Lamine Yamal as Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions fall behind after only two minutes here at Wembley.
James Trafford started in place of No1 England keeper Jordan Pickord. Tuchel also opted for Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield alongside Elliot Anderson, in place of Arsenal colleague Declan Rice who pulled out of England’s four internationals over the next two weeks through injury.
It could have been worse for England in the opening 35 minutes, with Spain having a goal disallowed, prior to Trafford saving well from before sent the ball narrowly past the England keeper’s far post, as the World Cup winners dominated the Tuchel’s side.
However, England refused to be dominated, with Barcelona’s Anthony Gordon slotting home past Unai Simon after a Three Lions counter on 36 minutes, prior to Harry Kane putting the Three Lions ahead four minutes later, as, improbably, the home side went into the break 2-1 up against the world champions.
There was further drama after the restart when a penalty was awarded to England after VAR instructed Italian referee Davide Massa to check the monitor after Jude Bellingham was felled in the box by Rodri. Up stepped Kane, who promptly thudded the ball against Unai Simon’s bar and away, as the score remained 2-1.
The excitement continued when Lamal somehow contrived to miss after Spain carved England open, prior to Alex Baena curling home from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 on the hour mark.
With 16 minutes remaining substitute Mikel Oyarzabal lifted the ball over Trafford to put the visitors 3-2 ahead, the culmination of a superb move from the World Cup winners, who cut Tuchel’s side open, as Spain forward once again scored against England after his late winner in Berlin.
Despite a late rally from the home side which saw Simon save from Bellingham, Spain saw the game out to win a compelling clash.
