Spain 2-3 England (Oyarzabal 65′, Williams 75′ | Kane 45′ pen, Konsa 53′, White 57′, Anderson 63′ red card)
METROPOLITANO STADIUM — England watched Spain lift the World Cup in Madrid – and then proceeded to play like world champions in their most significant win on European soil for decades.
Blistering for an hour as they blew Spain apart, they then defended superbly with 10 men to end their hosts 43-game unbeaten run in stunning circumstances.
The prize might only have been topping Group A3 of the Nations League but make no mistake, this was a hugely significant victory that launches Thomas Tuchel’s “England 2.0” in spectacular style.
That they did it both ways – thrilling going forward before defending like trojans – feels massive.
So too does a coming of age performance from James Trafford, whose series of crucial saves preserved a win that suggests England are the best in the world right now.
Trafford again! An excellent double save from the Leeds United keeper pic.twitter.com/L27oQFQO1J
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 15, 2026That it comes a few months after a World Cup is hugely frustrating.
But Tuchel seems to have absorbed the lessons from that exit, England playing with aggression and intent here than suggests they can live with the best while staying on the front foot.
And this was the best they were up against.
This was Spain’s first game in the capital since winning the World Cup and the red carpet was rolled out for La Roja at the cavernous Metropolitano.
A giant flag fluttered in the evening wind, fireworks popped, lights flashed and a full brass band struck up the national anthem before kick-off.
But the party piece was the trophy itself, hoisted by Unai Simon in front of fans fattened by two decades in which they have dominated on and off.
No-one could blame them for keeping the celebrations rolling, but it all felt a little bit a bit presumptious given the noises Tuchel had been making in the build-up.
“Proof of concept” of his England 2.0 he had called it on Saturday, in language that veered dangerously into “Diary of a CEO” territory.
But thankfully Tuchel wasn’t bloviating as his players tore into their hosts in a start laced with the sort of aggression and intent that was too often missing in key moments in the summer.
England should have been two up within 10 minutes.
Simon reacted superbly to block a close range effort from Jude Bellingham that looked destined for the back of the net before Anthony Gordon – who played like a man with a point to prove – saw his own goal-bound effort blocked.
It was stunning, stirring stuff.
Spain couldn’t settle and this felt like Tuchel’s “England 2.0” bursting into life, a side convinced they can take the game to the very best and putting the plan into place with conviction.
All over the pitch they were answering questions.
Declan Rice had spent pre-game talking about Graeme Souness’ arcerbic put-downs but looked every inch the perfect technical holding midfielder here, dovetailing superbly with Elliot Anderson.
That pivot allowed Bellingham to run riot, drifting into pockets of space that Spain couldn’t squeeze.
Inevitably, Spain steadied the ship. Lamine Yamal probed and sent one whistling over Trafford’s goal, but it was his Ballon d’Or conqueror who deservedly opened the scoring when his cunning won a penalty that he converted nervelessly.
Could England maintain the momentum? You bet. In fact, they got better as Bellingham turned it up to 11, enjoying winding up the Metropolitano as he bossed the world’s best.
He won the corner that Ezri Konsa planted past Simon for the second and was at the centre of a breathtaking move that saw White roll a third into the Spain net.
At that point it was a procession but those doubts about England’s defence had never fully disipated and Jarell Quansah self destructed by trying to play the ball out too casually.
Yamal zeroed in on goal and Anderson hauled him back, receiving a red card and handing Spain a lifeline.
Cue half an hour of one-way traffic and more England missteps under pressure.
Gordon was at fault for Spain’s second – losing the ball in a dangerous area – as substitute Nico Williams rolled home. But they hung on brilliantly.
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