Spain overturns England at Wembley to win 3-2 in Nations League

A two-minute starter sparked the Wembley crowd into a roar as Lamine Yamal pounced on Marc Guehi’s loose ball and drilled a low shot from the edge of the box, preserving Spain’s early rhythm and hinting at the visitors’ depth and quality¹. England regrouped and fought back with Anthony Gordon’s pace and a Kane header from a set-piece that swung the scoreboard to 2-1 before halftime, underscoring their attacking promise and resilience as Gareth Southgate’s side pressed high and briefly unsettled the Spanish shape^2,3.

Yet the pendulum swung decisively after Kane slipped while taking a penalty, the ball skimming the crossbar, and allowed Alex Baena to level from close range after a swift Spanish transition, prompting a tense shift in momentum as the hosts plotted a late comeback against a technically assured foe^3,6,9. Mikel Oyarzabal then delivered the decisive moment, finishing calmly past James Trafford after a well-timed break down the right that left England exposed at the back and unable to reassemble under pressure, capping a demanding spell for the home side^6,9.

Spain extended their unbeaten run to 39 games, a statistic underscoring their depth and technical edge even as England pressed to reassert themselves in the latter stages, with Southgate’s men pushing high to disrupt Spain’s smooth ball retention^6,8.

The result leaves England facing Czechia next while Spain prepare to host Croatia, with both sides taking away big lessons from a chaotic night at Wembley, where intensity, mistakes, and moments of brilliance punctuated a title-defining Nations League clash^6,13,16.