Mikel Oyarzabal was England’s tormentor again as world champions Spain won 3-2 at Wembley in the Uefa Nations League on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to 39 matches.
Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in the Euro 2024 final against England, struck 16 minutes from time in a back-and-forth Group A3 clash.
Lamine Yamal gave Spain the lead inside two minutes after intercepting a blind pass from Marc Guehi and firing in.
England hit back before half-time when Jude Bellingham set up Anthony Gordon to finish, before Nico O’Reilly chipped for Harry Kane to head home.
Kane missed the chance to make it 3-1 ten minutes after the break, slipping and hitting the bar from the penalty spot after Rodri was adjudged to have fouled Bellingham following a VAR review.
England were punished for another error when O’Reilly gave the ball away, Dani Olmo teed up Alex Baena to equalise brilliantly. Baena later combined with Oyarzabal for the dinked winner over James Trafford.
In Prague, 41-year-old Luka Modric showed no signs of slowing down, giving Croatia the lead just after the break in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
Xavi’s first experience as new Netherlands boss was a positive one, with the Dutch putting Serbia away by two goals to one in Beograd on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s home debut as Germany boss did not end well, though, with Dimitrios Kourbelis netting the winner for Greece in what was a big win for them.
