Spain they started theirs UEFA Nations League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win England at Wembley, Mikel Oyarzabal was decisive again as the world champions prevailed in a replay of the Euro 2024 final.
La Roja, playing their first game since beating Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, got off to a flying start when Lamine Yamal made a defensive mistake to open the scoring after just 104 seconds.
Yamal’s goal, the third fastest England have conceded at Wembley, was followed by a succession of chances that threatened defeat in the first meeting between the two sides since the European Championship showpiece.
But a brilliantly worked goal from Anthony Gordon drew England level, before Harry Kane’s deflected header put the hosts ahead.
However, the game turned nine minutes into the second half when Kane reversed his lines from the penalty spot, sparking a Spanish response as Alex Baena equalized once more.
And, as was the case in Berlin when Spain beat England 2-1 to win the European crown, substitute Oyarzabal had the final say in the 74th minute, his composed finish giving Spain the points as they extended an unbeaten run dating back to the 2024 defeat of Colombia in London to 39 games.
Three lions gather after Spain’s initial rise
Spain had an early goal when Manchester City defender Marc Guehi turned into his own goal under pressure from Yamal and conceded possession to the Barcelona superstar.
Yamal went one-on-one with James Trafford and was clinical to lift the ball over the Leeds United keeper with an effort that went off the post.
Ferran Torres looked to have made it 2-0 in the ninth minute when he deflected Dani Olmo’s cross but was denied by the offside flag.
England continued to live dangerously, and were fortunate to see Torres spurn two further chances to make it 2-0.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward was frustrated by Trafford after being played through on goal, then was guilty of a terrible foul following a superbly weighted pass from Rodri.
Yamal’s impromptu set up saw Olmo fire across goal as Spain continued to press for a second, but his effort whistled just wide of the far post.
And Spain were punished for their sloppiness as England made the most of their first clear-cut chance, equalizing with a superb counter-attack.
Elliot Anderson made a wonderful pass to former Newcastle United team-mate Gordon with a clever move that sent Jude Bellingham into space. Bellingham returned the favor by playing the ball back to Gordon, and the Barcelona player rolled past Unai Simon with consummate ease.
Gordon was again involved as England completed the change.
Nico O’Reilly collected his ball down the left wing and delivered a superb cross, which Kane met with a header that Marc Cucurella inadvertently deflected into his own net.
Spain responded well to the game’s upheaval, with Fabian Ruiz regretting not scoring the fourth goal of a captivating first half as his drive deflected wide.
England pay a penalty after Kane slips
Jarell Quansah headed over the crossbar and Aymeric Laporte was forced into a last-ditch tackle to deny Bukayo Saka as England made a strong start to the second half, which looked set to pay off when Kane presented himself with a chance to double their lead from 12 yards.
Referee Davide Massa initially waved off Bellingham’s appeals after being tackled by Rodri in the box, but the Italian referee pointed to the spot after VAR ordered him to consult the pitch monitor.
However, a loss of footing prevented Kane from making it 3-1, the Three Lions’ record goalscorer slipping as he made contact with the ball, giving him two accidental headers as his effort crashed against the underside of the bar.
The pain of that miss was compounded when, shortly after a poor tackle from Yamal, Baena whipped an exquisite finish into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box after O’Reilly had needlessly conceded possession to the England fly-half.
Saka was dragged narrowly wide as England tried to restore the lead, but a defense that never exuded solidity was again undone as Oyarzabal put Spain back in front.
Baena once again stood out, Atletico Madrid picked up a Laporte pass and turned to play Oyarzabal, who repeated his Euro 2024 heroics by volleying the ball over Trafford and settling a pulsating encounter in favor of the world champions.
