MAYBE we wouldn’t have beaten them in the World Cup final after all…
Spain to come back from 2-1 down after Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane had got the Three Lions into the lead with a comeback of our own.
opened the scoring, with the third fastest goal that the Three Lions have ever conceded at Wembley, inside one minute with Marc Guehi caught napping on the ball.
Some Anthony Gordon magic saw the LaLiga boys set this game alight, before Harry Kane scored England’s second in four minutes to see the hosts go ahead. Unfortunately though …
embraced his inner John Terry and slipped on the penalty spot, watching his effort crash against the crossbar from 12 yards out, before Alex Baena and old enemy Mikel Oyarzabal added two Spanish goals to slay the Three Lions.
This is how SunSport’s England reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the Three Lions:
JAMES TRAFFORD – 5
His passing out from the back was good, but his shot stopping left something to be desired as he conceded three goals and only made two saves.
Jordan Pickford’s time between the sticks t, but Trafford does still show plenty of promise to be England’s future number one.
JARELL QUANSAH – 5
Came incredibly close to finding a third goal but his headed effort was just over the bar early on in the second half.
He then lashed a shot at the face of Marc Cucurella, which the home fans enjoyed, but would’ve preferred if he found the back of the net. Defensively he was fine, but not troubled as much as Nico O’Reilly on the other side.
EZRI KONSA – 4
He didn’t really seem very involved defensively for most of the game, so it’s hard to judge him in that sense.
He made less defensive contributions than any other England defender, but also didn’t make a huge mistake like Marc Guehi next to him.
MARC GUEHI – 3
An awful mistake early on saw him give possession away to Lamine Yamal, who made no mistake in beating James Trafford from close range to score the third quickest goal England have ever conceded at Wembley Stadium.
Was booked in the second half and struggled generally tonight throughout – a good defender who had a poor game. Perhaps a potential relegation is playing on his mind….
NICO O’REILLY – 6
Had one of, if not the toughest tasks of the night in defending against Lamine Yamal, but did so reasonably well.
Yamal, of course, was always a threat but O’Reilly made his danger known too with a beautifully stood-up cross that Harry Kane headed home to give England the lead.
His poor pass backwards was straight into the feet of Dani Olmo, who set up Alex Baena for to make it 2-2.
ELLIOT ANDERSON – 6
Not at his sharpest in the first half, and almost gave Spain a second goal but for the intermittent finishing ability of Ferran Torres.
But to give him some credit he was one of the few players always looking to play the ball forwards.
He was vital in England getting level, capitalising on a Nico Williams slip to slide the ball into Anthony Gordon, and improved tenfold after that.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6
It’s a credit to him that he didn’t look out of place against one of the best midfields in world football.
The youngster was smooth on the ball in midfield and found some good forward passes with Elliot Anderson next to him breaking up play.
His versaility also worked really nicely for England as he could slot into the left-back role when Nico O’Reilly ventured forwards.
BUKAYO SAKA – 5
Bukayo Saka vs Marc Cucurella is always a great matchup, and you never know who is going to come out on top between them.
It was an even one in this game, with both of them keeping the other fairly quiet aside from a few clever Saka moments with the ball. Nonetheless, the was the quietest attacker in the England side.
JUDE BELLINGHAM – 8
Showed top-level composure in the middle of the park to provide a perfectly-weighted through ball to Anthony Gordon for his equaliser, and won a penalty that should’ve seen England bag a third.
He was tenacious as ever in the middle of the pitch, did his defensive duties well and is a real leader – his second half really showed how technically brilliant he is too. I can’t believe there was ever a debate about him being in the side.
ANTHONY GORDON – 8
Absolutely brilliant.
His performance overall was as sharp and decisive as the imaginary sniper celebration that followed his equalizing goal.
That goal was a special one, with a neat flick into Bellingham starting it, and a composed finish to end it – he looks extremely confident and was always looking to make something happen with his electric pace on the wing.
HARRY KANE – 7
If this game was the battle for the Ballon d’Or between Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane then the latter still deserves to win it on October 26.
It was exactly what we’ve come to expect from the England No9 – a crucial goal, with good hold-up play and the ability to drop deep and create too.
He unfortunately slipped on the Wembley turf to see a penalty crash off of the crossbar in the second half, but was still very good overall.
SUBS:
MORGAN ROGERS (ANTHONY GORDON, 70) – 5
Struggled to get involved on the left side as much as Anthony Gordon did, with Spain in the ascendancy when he came on.
JAMES GARNER (MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY, 70) – 5
Not as progressive as Myles Lewis-Skelly before him, but turned possession over nicely.
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (HARRY KANE, 82) – N/A
Hardly involved after being introduced late as England looked for a leveller.
MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE (BUKAYO SAKA, 82) – N/A
Hardly involved after being introduced late as England looked for a leveller.
