Roy Keane disagreed with Anthony Gordon’s evaluation that England are on the identical stage as Spain after the World Cup winners got here from behind to beat Thomas Tuchel’s facet 3-2 of their Nations League opener.
Spain prolong their unbeaten run to 39 video games with the win at Wembley, however the recreation might have had a really totally different final result had Harry Kane not missed a second-half penalty after he headed England 2-1 in entrance earlier than the break.
The momentum shifted in Spain’s favour after Kane’s slip, with Alex Baena equalising off the bench earlier than establishing the winner, scored by fellow substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, who broke England hearts within the Euro 2024 closing.
England’s Harry Kane slips and fires his penalty in opposition to the bar within the match with Spain
Gordon, who scored England’s equaliser from a terrific counter-attacking transfer, felt the efficiency was sufficient to win them the sport and confirmed that they’re a high crew.
“I do not suppose there’s a hole [to Spain] I really feel like we’re proper there,” Gordon informed ITV Sport. “We will win that recreation so simply. If the penalty goes in, we will go on and win the sport. In hindsight it is all the time simple to say that. However I felt good within the recreation.
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Rob Dorsett offers his verdict on England’s 3-2 defeat to world champions Spain at Wembley within the Nations League
“I do not suppose there’s a hole and I believe if we performed them within the closing I might’ve felt assured. Being assured does not all the time translate right into a win, however I believe you’ve got seen right here tonight that we’re a high crew.”
Responding to the England ahead, Sky Sports activities pundit Roy Keane mentioned on ITV Sport: “I disagree with Gordon, I believe there’s a hole. I believe there may be, clearly [Spain are] world champions, European champions.”
Within the build-up to the sport, Gordon backed Tuchel’s view that England’s gamers have an inbuilt incapacity to manage matches with possession – and the defeat highlighted this once more for the Barcelona ahead.
Talking within the blended zone, he informed Sky Sports activities Information: “What I mentioned within the midweek was primarily about them, how they management, and so they’re unimaginable at it; they’re the most effective. It does not imply we’re not good at it; we’re good. We’re simply not so good as them, for my part.
“However we’re higher at different issues. I believe my purpose summed that up. How direct we have been, how briskly we went from one purpose to the opposite. That is what I used to be speaking about, that direct fashion of play. Which can also be neat and tidy, simply in our personal English manner.”
Tuchel: We thought we had Spain at half-time
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Thomas Tuchel displays on England’s loss in opposition to Spain
England scored two objectives within the area of 4 first-half minutes simply earlier than half-time – extra objectives than Spain conceded in all the World Cup – however did not capitalise on their dominance after the restart with Kane’s spurned penalty proving to be the turning level.
Spain, in the meantime, have been ruthless with Lamine Yamal pouncing on Marc Guehi’s error to open the scoring after two minutes and Baena’s second-half equaliser coming straight after a misplaced move from Nico O’Reilly.
“We did the whole lot immediately to beat Spain,” Tuchel mentioned after the sport. “Particulars matter on this stage. Clear-cut errors have been too excessive on our facet sadly. Within the final 20 metres they have been extra scientific and composed to transform our ball losses into clear-cut possibilities.
“Nonetheless we had them and we had our likelihood to beat them.”
He added: “We needed desperately to be the crew to beat them. We thought we had them at half-time. That was the best way the crew confirmed up after half-time.
“It occurs too usually immediately and we get punished on the very best stage. The execution and composure within the closing 20 metres was on the very best stage from our opponents.”
Kane not ‘downbeat’ on Spain defeat
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Harry Kane reacts to England’s loss in opposition to Spain and his penalty kick miss
Kane says England can’t be “downbeat” and should take “numerous positives” from the loss at Wembley.
He informed Sky Sports activities Information within the blended zone afterwards: “Quite a lot of positives from quarter-hour into the sport till 60 minutes – it was pretty much as good as we have performed for a protracted, very long time.
“The depth, with and with out the ball, the probabilities we created, the objectives we scored – however in a recreation like this, if you’re enjoying a crew that is been unbeaten for that lengthy, you are going to want much less errors, each in giving objectives away and likewise with the penalty as properly. These are three massive moments within the recreation, and in the long run it value us.
“Not a recreation to get too downbeat about. Quite a lot of positives to take from it, numerous good performances.
“A tricky one to take as a result of on one other evening it might’ve been a unique end result.”
He added: “The interval from 20 minutes to 60 minutes is what we have to take from it. On the World Cup, we did not fairly put a 90 minutes collectively – we nonetheless have not fairly put a 90 minutes collectively, albeit in opposition to an excellent facet tonight.
“However after we’re in that second, it is about having the ability to take the larger moments, and that is in all probability the distinction proper now.”
Spain boss: We had the sport beneath management
Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring in opposition to England
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente felt his facet have been in control of the sport save for the ultimate levels of the primary half when England got here from behind to guide on the break.
“The sport was beneath management more often than not, apart from six to seven minutes, when England dominated us,” he mentioned.
“We obtained disconnected. In opposition to a rival like England, a superpower, this will occur. I believe we had the sport beneath management.”
Evaluation: ‘Missed penalty and a missed alternative for England’
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Anthony Gordon displays on a troublesome match in opposition to Spain within the Nations League
Sky Sports activities Information senior correspondent Rob Dorsett at Wembley Stadium:
“One captain’s slip, one memorable scalp that slipped away.
“A missed penalty and a missed alternative for England – although it is onerous to argue that Spain weren’t the far superior facet over 90 minutes.
“The world champions might have been out of sight inside half-hour, after a dominant show of their prowess. And a few self-destructive England passes.
“The truth that Spain have been solely a purpose forward, gave England hope, and it was a surprising 10-minute spell that noticed England seize the lead.
“Firstly, an excellent purpose from their finest participant on the evening, Anthony Gordon, after which from captain Kane with a header.
“However the dwelling facet began the second half very well, and when Kane missed from the spot to provide England a two-goal lead, Spain sensed blood. Their response with strikes from Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal was decisive and deserved.
“A defeat with some advantage then, for Tuchel’s England. However there nonetheless appears to be a gulf at school.”
England’s upcoming Nations League Group A3 fixtures
Tuesday September 29: Czech Republic (A), kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday October 3: Croatia (A), kick-off 5pm
Tuesday October 6: Czech Republic (H), kick-off 7.45pm