England were beaten 3-2 by world champions Spain at Wembley in the Nations League, in their first match since this summer’s World Cup. Lamine Yamal gave Spain the lead, but goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane put England ahead. Kane then missed a penalty before Alex Baena curled in an equaliser, and Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner.
Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon were England’s highest-rated players, both earning 8. Bellingham produced another dominant display, provided the assist for England’s equaliser, won the penalty that Kane hit against the bar after slipping, and forced a save from Simon with a drive in stoppage time. Gordon scored an excellent goal on the counter-attack, keeping calm when played through by Bellingham, and was a threat in behind throughout; he also delivered a dangerous first-half cross after England went behind.
Harry Kane was rated 7. He scored England’s second with a deflected header to put them in front, but missed a penalty when England had the chance to add a third in the second half. He had started dropping deep in the first half in search of the ball after England went behind.
At the back, Marc Guehi received a 5 after an uncharacteristic error gifted the ball, and the opening goal, to Lamine Yamal. James Trafford was rated 6; he showed early on his ability to play with the ball at his feet but conceded after just two minutes following Guehi’s mistake, and made an important save to stop Torres making it 2-0 in the first half. Jarell Quansah, a 6, continued at right-back after showing what he could do in the position at the World Cup, produced a physically dominant performance and headed over a chance to score. Ezri Konsa was also rated 6, with some shaky moments before he regrouped and improved as the game went on.
Nico O’Reilly, rated 6, put in the cross for Kane’s goal as England took the lead in the first half and did a good job trying to deal with Lamine Yamal, but gave the ball away for Spain’s second goal. In midfield, Elliot Anderson was rated 6 and was nearly punished for giving the ball away in a dangerous position in the first half, only for Ferran Torres to roll his shot wide. Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly took time to settle in a tough night in the middle against a Spain side who moved the ball well. Lewis-Skelly, also 6, made his first England start in centre midfield after shining for Arsenal, was given the task of shutting off the supply to Rodri, produced a solid performance and was replaced after 70 minutes.
Bukayo Saka was rated 6 after a quiet night; he won a couple of free-kicks around the box, shot over from the edge of the area in the first half and curled just wide with the score level. Among the substitutes, James Garner, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White, Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite all received 6. Garner took on Lewis-Skelly’s role of trying to keep Rodri quiet, Rogers did not get much of the ball in his 20 minutes, Gibbs-White came on and played on the left wing, Calvert-Lewin had not much time to impact the play, and Branthwaite was a late change for Guehi in the England backline with no time to make an impression. Pickford, Steele, Alexander-Arnold, Scott, Chalobah, Hall and Eze were not used.