World champions Spain rallied to defeat England 3-2 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday in the Nations League. Mikel Oyarzabal scored the 74th-minute winner, capping a dramatic comeback after Lamine Yamal opened the scoring early and Harry Kane missed a penalty kick.
Spain extended their unbeaten run to 39 matches following a hard-fought victory against England in London. The fixture marked the opening game of the Nations League for both national teams, arriving just months after Spain claimed the World Cup title.
Early Strikes and First-Half Momentum at Wembley
The match began with a defensive disaster for the hosts with less than two minutes on the clock. England defender Marc Guéhi attempted to play back toward his goalkeeper, failing to notice Lamine Yamal tracking behind him.
Yamal intercepted the loose ball and curled a left-footed shot off the inside of the far post. According to Opta data cited by sports outlets, the goal ranks as the third quickest England has ever conceded at Wembley Stadium.
Spain pressed forward immediately afterward, nearly doubling their lead when Ferran Torres tapped in, though the effort was disallowed for offside. Torres tested the home defense again shortly after, but goalkeeper James Trafford made a sharp save.
England eventually found their footing through direct wide play and quick counterattacks. In the 36th minute, Jude Bellingham drove forward and slipped a pass to Anthony Gordon, who raced through to steer a low shot past goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Just four minutes later, the Three Lions surged ahead. Nico O’Reilly drove down the left flank and delivered a cross that Harry Kane headed toward goal, with the ball glancing in off Marc Cucurella to give England a 2-1 halftime advantage.
Kane Penalty Miss and Spain’s Tactical Response
The turning point of the second half arrived ten minutes after the restart. Referee Davide Massa awarded England a penalty kick following a VAR review for a foul by Rodri on Bellingham inside the area.
Kane stepped up to take the spot-kick with a chance to establish a two-goal cushion, but he slipped slightly during his run-up. His shot crashed against the crossbar, letting the world champions off the hook.
Spain capitalized on the missed opportunity almost immediately. On the hour mark, substitute Dani Olmo intercepted a misplaced pass from O’Reilly and fed Álex Baena, who curled a low shot into the corner to level the score.
| Statistic | England | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 44% | 56% |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 6 |
| Fouls | 11 | 16 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 0 |
Oyarzabal Strikes Again to Seal the Victory
The visiting side completed their comeback in the 74th minute through a familiar executioner. Mikel Oyarzabal, who also scored the winning goal when Spain defeated England in the Euro 2024 final, made his presence felt once more.
Baena turned provider this time, setting up Oyarzabal for an exquisite dinked finish over Trafford from close range. England pressed for a late equalizer through substitutes like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Morgan Rogers, but Luis de la Fuente’s squad held firm.
Thomas Tuchel’s side was left to reflect on defensive vulnerabilities and missed chances as Spain banked all three points to begin their group campaign.