England have lost their Nations League opener to Spain at Wembley – but the result doesn’t tell the full picture as Thomas Tuchel learned some valuable lessons
Thomas Tuchel, almost from day one as England manager, had promised Three Lions fans fast, attacking football.
And, after the World Cup, and England’s rather unceremonious exit against Argentina, it felt like the German had gone back on his promise. However, on Saturday evening, England were at their free-flowing best as Jude Bellingham pulled the strings in the midfield.
It was three indvidual errors that shaped the game, all going the way of Spain, as England were beat 3-2 by the World Champions in a game they didn’t really do a lot wrong. It’s not the ideal start to a new Nations League campaign – but there are lots of positives to take away.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
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.
However, Tuchel side’s were able to absorb the early body blows and come back off the canvas to deliver some haymakers of their own. And it was the Three Lions’ Spanish-based pair at the heart of it.
Jude Bellingham, once again, proved he was England’s best player as he was at the centre of every attack – slipping through Anthony Gordan to level the game. A couple of minutes later, England were ahead.
Harry Kane’s header deflected off Marc Cucurella and past Unai Simon in the Spanish net. And this wasn’t 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 were causing all sorts of problems. Bellingham looked exceptional driving forwards, with direct wingers attacking the goal.
The Three Lions 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.
Another error from Nico O’Reilly allowed Spain to draw level through Alex Baena, himself making 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. And 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 we saw at the World Cup, and certainly a more attacking one. But the trade-off was that England looked open – and they shipped three goals.
The defensive mistakes will need ironing out, but if the German 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.