Key events
David Hytner
It was another high-profile game when Thomas Tuchel’s England let a lead slip in the second half and went on to lose. But unlike the last time, it was not one for recriminations. The England support can accept losing when their team plays with cut and thrust. More to the point, they can accept losing to Spain who, at times, played football from a different stratosphere.
England were game. They were driven by Jude Bellingham, who ran on adrenaline and played to the point of maximum expression. They had positive surges either side of the interval, especially the one towards the end of the first half when goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane put them in charge, hauling them back after Lamine Yamal’s second-minute goal.
Thomas Tuchel’s reaction
Terrible start, the worst start possible. The reaction was very good. I think we were the better team overall, even though we conceded some big chances. It was our best 15 minutes after the [half-time] whistle, but we couldn’t convert the penalty. Had we done that I thinik Spain would have felt their unbeaten run was ending.
Another big mistake for 2-2, and the third goal was the only one they really scored. It is what it is, we have to keep going and learn from it.
[Was the Anthony Gordon goal a template?] No, it was a counter-attack.
Our bravery [pressing high up the field] was outstanding. But we couldn’t convert enough into chances and goals. At this level, the details matter.
Harry Kane’s reaction
We reached good levels in the World Cup but didn’t quite put a full 90 minutes together. It was the same today. But that period [either side of half-time] was as good as we’ve played in a long, long time. We know that’s the level we can reach and on another day we’d have won that game.
Anthony Gordon’s reaction
I think it’s a bit of a missed chance. It was a great game to watch and play in; some of the attacking play was of the highest level. But when mistakes cost you, you feel like you’ve given it away rather than them winning it. We were as good as them and they were as good as us.
[On his goal] It kind of summed up what I said, which was quite nice, but ultimately it didn’t lead to a victory.
I don’t feel like there is a gap [to Spain]. If the penalty went in I think we would have won. I think you can see tonight that we’re a top team.
Nobody will ever write the book on England’s greatest defeats, but that was one of the better ones. They went toe to toe with the world champions and would probably have gone 3-1 up but for Harry Kane’s Standing Foot (best prog-rock band ever). There are obvious concerns about the defence, but with the ball England were really good.
“Bit late for this,” says Paul McGrory, “but is Bellingham the first player to wear the armband who has never played top-flight English football. It might be a disgrace, but we’ll have to await the view of various social media disgraces.”
You’re a disgrace mate. (It must be, right.)
Full time: England 2-3 Spain
Bellingham thrashes a rising shot from the angle that is pushed over by Simon. The corner is cleared and the referee calls time on a richly enjoyable game at Wembley. It confirmed what we already knew. England are a very good football team; Spain are the best.
90+4 m,in Baena’s silly challenge on Rogers gives England one last chance from a set-piece. Anderson’s free-kick is too close to Simon, the end.
90+2 min An overhit cross from Rogers wafts behind for a goalkick. England are heading for defeat but they’ve played well against the best team in the world, certainly with the ball.
90+1 min Jude Bellingham has been offensively good in the second half.
90 min O’Reilly is struggling with cramp; England have used all their subs I think. There will be 48 hours five minutes of added time.
89 min: England substitution Jarrad Branthwaite replaces Marc Guehi in defence.
88 min A superb cross from Rogers in the right is bobbled behind for a corner by Pubill.
86 min Anderson slides a good ball down the left side of the area towards Garner, whose chipped cross takes Simon out of the game but is too high for Calvert-Lewin.
84 min Bellingham, the England captain now that Kane has gone off, drags a long-range shot too close to Simon.
83 min: England substitutions Morgan Gibbs-White and Dominic Calvert-Lewin replace Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.
82 min Spain substitution Mikel Merino for Dani Olmo.
81 min Now Spain are sitting a bit deeper, inviting England to show them what they’ve got. Bellingham finds Saka, who goes over under a challenge from Cucurealla in the area. Cucurella got a slight touch on the ball, so no penalty. Spain beak and Bellingham is booked for a tactical foul.
79 min “Pedri, Rob, just Pedri,” says Ruth Purdue. “He made that goal. Just an invisible force of technique. The interception when it was fired at him at the start of the buildup for the goal… wow.”
77 min “After being put on the back foot by Spain, England have shown spark but Harry Kane’s missed penalty and a second defensive blunder is taking its toll,” writes Colum Fordham. “As the excellent Anthony Gordon said prior to the match, England have to play to their strengths. Playing the Spanish way ‘is not in us’. It might be time to give Trent AA a chance to show his skills with his crosses and long-range passing.”
What a delicious goal. Baena found a pocket of space just outside the D and guided a perfect angled pass into the area for Oyarzabal. He took a touch on the run and teased the softest of chips over Trafford with his left foot. The defensive gaps were probably too big, and Laporte probably shouldn’t have been allowed to punch a pass through to Baena, but the creation of the goal was beautiful.
GOAL! England 2-3 Spain (Oyarzabal 74)
It’s Spain’s game now!
73 min This is still anyone’s game, but Spain have been so much better since that missed penalty from Kane.
70 min: Spain substitution Pedri on, Fabian Ruiz off.
70 min: Double substitution for England Morgan Rogers and James Garner replace Anthony Gordon and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who were both excellent. To these admittedly tired eyes, Lewis-Skelly looks a proper midfield player.
69 min This game is so open. Yamal’s long-range shot is blocked at one end; Lewis-Skelly’s long-range curler is comfortably saved by Simon at the other.
68 min “It looks like the City players are affected by the charges,” writes Colin Greener. “Errors from O’Reilly, Guehi, and even Rodri. Doesn’t explain the Cucurella one though.”
He does have the same initials. Bit like Jarvis and Jesus.
67 min O’Reilly is booked for tattooing Yamal’s right calf.
66 min Saka, found by the increasingly influential Bellingham, whips a trademark curler just wide of the far post. Lovely effort.
62 min Olmo’s shot from the edge of the D is well blocked by Guehi. Spain have woken up.
Spain are level after another mistake from England. Nico O’Reilly’s errant pass went straight to Olmo on the right wing, just outside the area. He fired a pass into Baena, who made room to shape an emphatic shot past Trafford from 20 yards. That’s a cracking finish from a player who has made a great chance and scored a goal within a few minutes of coming on.
Leave a Reply