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World champions Spain came from behind to beat England 3-2 in a thrilling UEFA Nations League match at Wembley on Saturday, overturning a 2-1 deficit after the hosts scored two goals in four minutes.
England appeared to have completed a remarkable first-half turnaround after falling behind in the opening two minutes, with Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane finding the net in quick succession to give Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead. Project reports
But Spain, the reigning world and European champions, hit back after the break with substitute Álex Baena before Mikel Oyarzabal struck the decisive blow in the 74th minute.
The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 39 matches and gave Oyarzabal another memorable goal against England, having also scored the winning goal when the two teams met in the 2024 European Championship final.
Spain strikes early at Wembley
The visitors needed less than two minutes to take control of the match after Lamine Yamal punished a mistake by the English defence.
England were attempting to play from the back when Marc Guéhi lost possession, allowing Spain to exploit the opening. Yamal reacted quickly and completed the action, immediately giving Luis de la Fuente’s team the lead.
The goal immediately put England under pressure and gave Spain the kind of start expected from a team that had entered the Nations League campaign as both world and European champions.
For a period, Spain appeared comfortable in possession and able to control the pace, forcing England to chase the game in front of their home fans.
However, England gradually stabilized and began to find space behind the Spanish defence, with Jude Bellingham increasingly influential in the hosts’ attempts to turn the game around.
England produce a stunning four-minute upset
England’s response was emphatic.
The hosts equalized in the 36th minute when Anthony Gordon finished off a quick attacking move after Bellingham helped create the chance. The draw changed the mood at Wembley and gave England new confidence after Spain had dominated the opening stages.
Just four minutes later, England completed the comeback.
Harry Kane heads home to give England a 2-1 lead, with the ball deflected by Spanish defender Marc Cucurella before ending up in the net.
Two goals in the space of four minutes had completely transformed the match. Spain had started the match in control, but England went into half-time with the lead and momentum firmly on their side.
The breakthrough also demonstrated England’s ability to respond to adversity against a Spanish team that had been widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in international football.
Kane misses the chance to extend England’s lead
England had the opportunity to take a two-goal lead early in the second half after being awarded a penalty.
Kane steps forward to take responsibility but the England captain slips as he hits the ball and sends his shot against the crossbar.
The shortage proved costly.
Instead of taking a potentially decisive 3-1 lead, England allowed Spain to remain within reach. The visitors soon regained control of the match, with their passing and movement causing more and more problems for the English defence.
The missed penalty became one of the decisive moments of the match as Spain responded with two goals before the final whistle.
Baena restores parity
Spain’s pressure eventually produced an equalizer in the 60th minute.
Baena, who came off the bench, found the goal to make it 2-2 and restore Spain’s confidence. The goal changed the momentum once again, with England suddenly forced to defend against a Spanish team who had recovered from the shock of conceding two goals in four minutes.
The draw also highlighted Spain’s depth, with De la Fuente’s decision to introduce Baena proving influential in the second-half comeback.
England continued to threaten and remained capable of winning the match, but Spain dictated more and more possession and territory as the match entered its final stages.
Oyarzabal repeats his Euro 2024 heroics
Spain completed the comeback in the 74th minute when Oyarzabal produced another decisive moment against England.
Baena played a key role in the move before Oyarzabal ended up giving Spain a 3-2 lead.
For England the goal was particularly painful because Oyarzabal had also scored the winning goal against them in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
The Spanish striker then added another chapter to his growing story against the Three Lions, once again providing the decisive contribution as the two nations met in a major international competition. UEFA noted the parallel between his latest victory at Wembley and his goal in the Euro 2024 final.
Spain holds on for victory
England pushed forward in search of another equalizer in the closing stages, but Spain managed the rest of the match effectively.
The result allowed England to reflect on a match in which they had shown enough attacking quality to overturn an early deficit but failed to protect their lead after the break.
Spain, for its part, has demonstrated the ability to recover from difficult situations and maintain its remarkable unbeaten run.
The match also renewed memories of the Euro 2024 final, when Spain defeated England 2-1 to win the European Championship. Oyarzabal was once again at the center of the decisive moment, making Saturday’s victory another significant achievement in the recent rivalry between the two teams.
England will face a rapid response
The defeat leaves England needing to regroup quickly as the Nations League schedule offers little time for reflection.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will face the Czech Republic on 29 September, before Croatia on 3 October. They will then face the Czech Republic again on 6 October, while the return match against Spain is scheduled for 15 November.
Spain, meanwhile, face Croatia on September 29 before taking on the Czech Republic on October 3. The next match with England will be on November 15th.
Saturday’s match therefore provided a first clue to the intensity expected for Group A3, with England and Spain involved in one of the most dramatic matches of the opening round.
For England the night ended in disappointment despite a remarkable four minute comeback. For Spain, the final score tells the biggest story: the world champions come back from 2-1 down to beat England 3-2 at Wembley.
