Spain came from behind twice to beat England 3-2 at Wembley on Friday night, extending their European record unbeaten run to 39 matches in a pulsating Nations League clash.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for the visitors before Anthony Gordon equalised for England. Alex Baena restored Spain's lead early in the second half, only for Harry Kane to level from the penalty spot — after a dramatic slip during his initial run-up forced him to retake the kick. Mikel Oyarzabal then struck the winner in the 73rd minute, capping a dominant second-half display from the world champions.
Spain controlled possession throughout, with Yamal and Baena consistently finding pockets of space between England's midfield and defence. The Barcelona teenager, who turns 19 next month, was electric on the right flank, combining with Pedri to unsettle the hosts' back line repeatedly.
England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, showed resilience but were ultimately undone by Spain's quality in the final third. Gordon's goal — a sharp finish from inside the box — briefly raised hopes of a statement win for the home side, but Spain's response was swift and decisive.
Kane's penalty moment provided the game's most dramatic episode. The Bayern Munich striker slipped as he approached the ball, sending his effort wide, but referee Slavko Vinčić ordered a retake after judging England players had encroached into the area. Kane made no mistake at the second attempt, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Oyarzabal's winner was a fitting conclusion. The Real Sociedad forward latched onto a through ball from Dani Olmo and coolly slotted past Jordan Pickford, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling Spanish contingent.
The result extends Spain's remarkable unbeaten sequence, which stretches back to a loss against Switzerland in September 2024. Luis de la Fuente's side have now won 33 of their last 39 matches, a run that includes the 2024 European Championship and the 2025 Nations League title.
For England, the defeat is a setback in their own Nations League campaign but offers Tuchel useful data ahead of the 2026 World Cup defence. The hosts created chances but lacked the cutting edge to match Spain's relentless attacking rhythm.
Sources
https://www.skysports.com/football/england-vs-spain/report/554000 https://www.afp.com/en/spain-beat-england-nations-league-extend-unbeaten-run
