England defeated world champions Spain 3-2 in Madrid on Sunday to end a 43-game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures.
Thomas Tuchel’s side secured top spot in Nations League Group A3 by outplaying the hosts for an hour. Both teams had already qualified for the quarterfinals before kickoff.
England manager Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the win over Croatia. He brought in James Trafford, Ben White, and Ezri Konsa. Luis de la Fuente made five alterations to his Spanish team. Lamine Yamal returned to the starting lineup.
No saving that 🔥@HKane puts the #ThreeLions ahead against Spain at the interval 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FWNh3DEiPq
England Lead 3-0 in Madrid
Harry Kane drew a foul from Pau Cubarsí in the box. The Ballon d’Or winner converted the penalty past Unai Simón in the final seconds of the half. It was his 93rd international goal on his 127th appearance.
Ezri Konsa headed home a corner from Declan Rice eight minutes after the restart to make it 2-0. Jude Bellingham played a slick counterattacking pass into space on the right soon after. Ben White drilled a low shot past Simón at his near post.
Spain Fight Back After Red Card
The match turned 25 minutes from time when Jarell Quansah lost possession in his own half. Elliot Anderson pulled back Lamine Yamal inside the area. The foul brought a straight red card and a penalty.
Mikel Oyarzabal sent James Trafford the wrong way from the spot. Nico Williams swept in a cross from Yamal off the post in the 75th minute.
A strong first half showing from our #ThreeLions in Madrid 💪 pic.twitter.com/GAXsP0sfAI
James Trafford made a double stop to deny Fermín López and Oyarzabal. Ben White made a late challenge on Williams to preserve the win.
“We knew we were going to beat them tonight. The messaging from the manager after the Croatia game was so positive, the message from the boys, everyone pushing together, knowing that we’re going to come here and not just sit back and try and hit them on the counter,” said Declan Rice, England midfielder.
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 🌍 Lamine, Cubarsí, Pedri, Fermín and Gordon feature in the match between Spain and England (2-3) on Matchday 6 of the UEFA Nations League, with Lamine providing an assist. Livaković features in Croatia's 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over… pic.twitter.com/fe2zpKr6IN
“If we don’t go down to 10 I think we see more of the ball, we start to get more space and we see our attacking players thrive. Overall, 10 men for half an hour, winning 3-2 against that team, unbeaten in 43, is a massive thing,” Rice told ITV.
“Half an hour feels like two hours against a team like this [with 10 men]. That's the way it is. Without the red card we were clear winners,” Thomas Tuchel told ITV.
The quarterfinal draw takes place at 11am on Friday, November 20, with the two-legged ties scheduled for the March international break.
Earlier coverage: England Face Ultimate Test Against Europe's Champions in Madrid
