England have lost to Spain 3-2 after familiar foe Mikel Oyarzabal got the winning goal, as the world champions picked up all three points in the Nations League.
Lamine Yamal opened up the scoring following a mistake at the back by Marc Guehi, but was answered back by a lovely counter-attacking move finished off through Anthony Gordon.
Captain Harry Kane made it 2-1 before Alex Baena equalised on the hour mark. Kane then had an opportunity from the penalty spot, but slipped as he took the spot-kick, soon to be punished by Oyarzabal.
The Spanish forward produced a brilliant chip as Spain held out to win 3-2.
A nightmare start for the Three Lions came in the first couple of minutes when Guehi was caught in possession.
The Manchester City defender turned towards his goal on the edge of the penalty area, gifting the ball to Yamal, who slotted past a helpless James Trafford into the bottom left corner.
England started the game like a bag of nerves, centred with Guehi retreating into his own half and playing a series of anxious passes with Trafford.
Spain thought they had a second after Fabian Ruiz’s cross was smashed home by Ferran Torres, but the PSG forward just strayed offside.
Lamine Yamal opened up the scoring in the first couple of minutes
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Torres should have made it 2-0 after England were carved open from a complete mix-up at the back, with the World Cup-winning goalscorer running through on goal.
Trafford stood tall and denied him with an excellent outstretched foot.
Just before the half-hour mark, Torres raced in on goal once again, but fluffed his lines and put his close-range effort wide.
Dani Olmo was next to go close, firing a cross-body effort just past Trafford’s far post.
England had several key chances but could not overcome Spain
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Despite the Spanish pressure, England found a response with a stunning counter-attack.
Jude Bellingham rolled Gordon through on goal, who backed up his words mid-week about “playing to England’s strengths”.
The slick move was coolly finished by the Barcelona winger, who looked like England’s brightest spark in the first half.
The Three Lions carried on their momentum, with captain Kane stepping up after another brilliant move.
Anthony Gordon was one of England’s standout performers
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Nico O’Reilly’s delivery was headed goalwards by Kane, and was deflected by Marc Cucurella past Unai Simon to give England the lead.
Cucurella, just before the end of the first half, hit the post from an inadvertent cross that nearly caught out Trafford.
The second 45 started with Bellingham being brought down by Rodri, but referee Davide Massa waved play on.
After a VAR check, a penalty was awarded, but Kane missed it, slipping as he struck the ball and smashing it off the bar.
England captain Harry Kane slipped as he missed from 12 yards
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Yamal had a golden opportunity just before the hour mark after a lovely, slick move by the world champions, but the Barcelona winger passed his shot wide.
The very next attack saw Spain go level, with Baena off the bench finding the bottom right corner after a mistake by O’Reilly at the back.
Bukayo Saka nearly got on the scoresheet in the 66th minute after a quick, slick move found the Arsenal winger, whose curling effort went narrowly wide.
Oyarzabal dealt a cruel blow with 15 minutes to go, lifting a delightful chip over Trafford as the Spanish forward came to haunt England once again.
Mikel Oyarzabal made it 3-2 with a beautiful chip over James Trafford
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With five minutes of added time, Spain shut up shop, giving the Three Lions nothing to work with.
The world champions cleared away one last corner deep into stoppage time, as they picked up all three points and beat England at Wembley.
A disappointing result for Thomas Tuchel’s side in a contest they knew they could have got something from.
