England lost 3-2 to Spain in their Nations League opener at Wembley on Saturday, with three individual errors proving decisive in a game where Thomas Tuchel's side largely outplayed the World Champions.
Tuchel had promised fast, attacking football from almost day one of his tenure as England manager. After the World Cup and England's exit against Argentina, it felt like the German had gone back on that promise. On Saturday evening, however, England were at their free-flowing best as Jude Bellingham pulled the strings in midfield.
Early setback and swift response
The Three Lions got off to the worst possible start. Marc Guehi was caught in possession by Lamine Yamal, who needed no second invitation to lash the ball past James Trafford. Barely two minutes had gone, and England were already on the ropes.
Tuchel's side absorbed the early body blows and came back to deliver some attacking moments of their own, with England's Spanish-born pair at the heart of it. Bellingham, once again, proved he was England's best player as he was at the centre of every attack, slipping through Anthony Gordon to level the game. A couple of minutes later, England were ahead.
Kane penalty miss proves costly
Harry Kane's header deflected off Marc Cucurella and past Unai Simon in the Spanish net. This was not the England team that immediately packed themselves behind the ball; the Three Lions could smell blood. Spain needed the half-time whistle as England's runners caused all sorts of problems, with Bellingham looking exceptional driving forwards and direct wingers attacking the goal.
England should have had a third, but Kane's penalty hit the bar. It was the second individual error from England, and this one changed the game.
Spain fight back to win
Another error from Nico O'Reilly allowed Spain to draw level through Alex Baena, who made a huge impact off the bench. England fell flat. They had spent much of the game making the World Champions chase their shadows, yet Spain had somehow managed to draw level. The men in red used that spell of pressure to find a third, with Mikel Oyarzabal dinking the ball over Trafford.
It was a more entertaining England than the one seen at the World Cup, and certainly a more attacking one. But the trade-off was that England looked open and shipped three goals. The defensive mistakes will need ironing out, but if Tuchel can find a way to keep that attacking freedom without leaving the Three Lions so exposed, Saturday night may prove to be the blueprint for what comes next.
