England v Spain
League A, Group 3
UEFA Nations League
7.45pm BST, Saturday 26 September
Wembley Stadium

Head-to-head

England have won just two of their last 13 games against the reigning FIFA World Cup holders, losing nine times (D2); those wins came at home to Spain in November 2011 (1-0) and away to Germany in March 2016 (3-2).

Spain have won six of their last nine meetings with England across all competitions (D1 L2), most recently winning 2-1 in the final of the 2024 UEFA European Championship. Their last away game vs the Three Lions also ended 2-1, at Wembley in the UEFA Nations League in September 2018.

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Thomas Tuchel has named his England team to take on world champions Spain in the opening game of the UEFA Nations League.

The Three Lions head coach has picked James Trafford in goal, while there’s also a starting berth for Myles Lewis-Skelly in a midfield role alongside Elliot Anderson.

Captain Harry Kane leads the line, supported by Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

England starting XI v Spain: 12 James Trafford, 3 Nico O’Reilly, 5 Ezri Konsa, 6 Marc Guéhi, 7 Bukayo Saka, 8 Elliot Anderson, 9 Harry Kane, 10 Jude Bellingham, 11 Anthony Gordon, 16 Myles Lewis-Skelly, 22 Jarell Quansah

Substitutes: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Trent Alexander-Arnold, 4 Alex Scott, 12 Trevoh Chalobah, 14 Lewis Hall, 15 Jarrad Branthwaite, 17 Morgan Rogers, 18 James Garner, 19 Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 20 Morgan Gibbs-White, 21 Eberechi Eze,  23 Jason Steele

England's UEFA Nations League campaign started with defeat, as world champions Spain secured a 3-2 comeback victory at Wembley.

Lamine Yamal put the visitors 1-0 up inside two minutes but England rallied late in the first half and scored twice through Anthony Gordon and captain Harry Kane.

England had a golden chance to move 3-1 ahead early in the second half but Kane missed a penalty – given for a trip on Jude Bellingham – by striking the bar.

Spain regathered and struck twice to win it, as substitutes Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal both produced fine finishes to stretch their unbeaten run to 39 games. 

Neither side has played since their World Cup exploits in the summer, but Spain picked up right where they left off and took an early lead.

While in possession deep inside his own half, England centre-back Marc Guéhi tried to turn back towards goalkeeper James Trafford but was unaware of a lurking Yamal, who took the ball off his toes, carried it into the box and clipped a clinical shot in off the post.

It was a disappointing start but England almost responded just three minutes later as winger Gordon, who moved to Spain to play for Barcelona after the World Cup, beat Marc Pubill down the left and fizzed a low cross towards Kane that was brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Unai Simon.

One of Tuchel’s noteworthy team selections was Trafford as the starting goalkeeper and the Leeds United man helped justify that soon after, with a fine save to keep out a Ferran Torres attempt after he beat the offside trap and was through on goal.

But Torres, who scored the winner in the World Cup Final, was having an off night and he missed another one-on-one opportunity by dragging a shot wide of the post after he was released by a Rodri through-ball.

England gradually grew into the match, with a Saka snap-shot from the edge of the box that flew over the bar proving to be their best of the first half-hour.

Spain, and Yamal, continued to thrill. The 19 year old found Dani Olmo in space inside the box with a brilliant back-heel but his Barcelona teammate grazed the post with a low shot.

But it was England celebrating next, after a rapid counter-attack from a corner that saw Bellingham release the speedy Gordon through on goal, and he calmly slotted it low and into the corner.

If that livened up Wembley, the roof was soon blown off as England took the lead. Less than a minute after he bent a shot agonisingly wide, Kane scored England’s second with a header from a clipped Nico O’Reilly cross that deflected in off Marc Cucurella.

Spain were stunned but were soon back on the front foot as Yamal blazed an awkward chance over the bar, while Fabian Ruiz’s deflected effort had Trafford scrambling but fell wide.

A strong start to the second half saw England camp deep inside Spain’s half, and their pressure was rewarded with a penalty after Bellingham was tripped by Rodri.

But Kane slipped as he made a double contact with the spot-kick and watched in agony as it slammed the bar and bounced clear.

Spain then hit back. Less than a minute after Yamal missed a golden opportunity to equalise by failing to convert a brilliant one-two, substitute Baena made England’s defence pay for giving the ball away again by chopping back onto his right foot and bending a shot into the corner from 20 yards.

In an end-to-end game, both teams continued to create chances but Spain took theirs and struck the winner 16 minutes from time, as Baena slipped in his fellow substitute Oyarzabal, who delicately lifted the ball past Trafford for what turned out to be their winner.

England piled on the pressure late in the game, with Simon forced into a sharp save to keep a Bellingham effort out, but they fell just short.

England: 13 James Trafford (Leeds United), 22 Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), 5 Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), 6 Marc Guehi (Manchester City), 3 Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), 8 Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), 16 Myles Lewis-Skelley (Arsenal), 7 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), 10 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), 11 Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), 9 Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Substitutes: 17 Morgan Rogers (Chelsea) for Gordon 70’, 18 James Garner (Everton) for Lewis-Skelley 70’, 19 Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United) for Kane 82’, 20 Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) Saka 82’, 15 Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) for Guehi 89’

Subs not used: 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton),2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), 4 Alex Scott (Bournemouth), 12 Trevoh Chalobah (Como), 14 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), 21 Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), 23 Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Goals: Gordon 36, Kane 40

Yellow Cards: O’Reilly 67, Guehi 69, Bellingham 81

Manager: Thomas Tuchel

Spain: 23 Unai Simon, 12 Marc Pubill, 14 Aymeric Laporte, 5 Pau Cubasi, 22 Marc Cucurella, 8 Fabian, 16 Rodri, 17 Nico Williams, 10 Dani Olmo, 19 Lamine Yemal, 7 Ferran Torres

Substitutes: 21 Mikel Oyarzabal for Torres 55’, 15 Alex Baena for Williams 55’, 20 Pedri for Ruiz 71’, 6 Mikel Merino for Olmo 81’

Subs not used: 1 David Raya, 2 Dean Huijsen, 3 Alejandro Grimaldo, 9 Fermin Lopez, 11 Yeremy Pino, 13 Josep Martinez, 18 Martin Zubimendi,

Goals: Yamal 2, Baena 60, Oyarzabal 74

Manager: Luis de la Fuente