UEFA Nations League- Spain 2 England 3 - Match Report
Raheem Sterling grabs a brace as England beat Spain in a pulsating UEFA Nations League tie 3-2
Mitch Freeley
Raheem Sterling ended his international drought with a brace before England survived a second-half onslaught from Spain to record a stunning 3-2 Nations League victory in Seville.
A Marcus Rashford goal sandwiched between a pair of finishes from Sterling had Gareth Southgate's men 3-0 up at the break, though Harry Kane – the architect of two and involved in all three – was their leading light.
Things were more one-sided due to Spain's desperation after the interval and Paco Alcacer scored his 10th goal in six games for club and country just before the hour, but England held firm to claim their first victory in UEFA’s new competition.
Spain were quick to apply pressure, but England looked promising and scored a well-worked opener 16 minutes in – Sterling blasting into the top-right corner of David de Gea's net after Kane and Rashford had combined to put the Manchester City forward in the clear.
Rashford was then the man to apply the finishing touch 13 minutes later, as he slotted home after Kane's inch-perfect pass.
Things got even worse for Spain - who had won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Wembley - just before the break.
Ross Barkley's sumptuous ball over their backline found the run of Kane, who squared across goal for Sterling to apply an easy finish.
Spain unsurprisingly improved in the second half and Alcacer pulled one back shortly after his arrival in the 57th minute, losing his marker to head in from a corner.
Jordan Pickford was then lucky to escape unpunished, as he appeared to pull back Rodrigo Moreno in the area after being robbed of possession by the Valencia forward, who was denied a goal by the goalkeeper's last-ditch slide tackle.
Sergio Ramos did find the net when heading in Dani Ceballos' cross deep into added time, but it was too little, too late for the hosts as England successfully clinched a first away win against Spain since 1987.
Live Updates!
90+6 Goal! Sergio Ramos with a flying header! 3-2! Morata gets a yellow! It's all over! - Spain loose a competitive home game for the first time in 15 years!
90+6 Spain rattle t
90+5 Johnny with a dangerous cross, Pickford holds on, just off the goal-line. Nervous stuff from England!
90+3 Alcacer nods the ball just over!
90+ SEVEN yes SEVEN minutes of stoppage time *gulp*
90- The ball smashes into the face of Joe Gomez... A last-gasp corner for Spain, it's wasted.
89- Harry Winks is off. Nathaniel Chalobah is on for his England debut!
87- Pickford punches out an Asensio cross into the path of Morata, the Chelsea man can't react in time. That's a let off for England!
86- Fantastic running from Rashford who has been tireless for the England cause tonight. Ceballos gets a yellow for tripping England number eleven over.
85- It's all Spain at the moment, but time is ticking on La Roja.
84- Sub for England, Tripper is off. Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander- Arnold is on!
83- Asensio from outside of the box with a curling, whirling shot its a hairsbreadth wide!
81- Spain patiently keep the ball, Thiago Alcántara strikes the drilled shot flies wide.
79- Spain is probing for a second! Alcacer cracks a shot from 40-odd yards. Pickford saves it.
77- Raheem Sterling picks up the ball for England and is hauled down by Busquets. Cynical stuff from the Barca midfielder.
75- Sub for England, Ross Barkley is off. Kyle Walker is on. England looking to firm things up.
74- Ben Chilwell is on the end of a clumsy tackle from Johnny. That's a yellow card for the Wolves defender.
72- Final sub for Spain, Alvaro Morata is on, Rodrigo is off.
71- Maguire wipes out Dani Ceballos. Yellow card for the Leicester City player. Alonso's free-kick skips wide.
67- Marcus Alonso gets into the box, his cross /shot is saved by Pickford. It's safe to say the Everton keeper has had a mixed bag of an evening tonight.
65- Smart run from Rashford who eases the pressure on England with a driving run up the wing. Spain seemingly pick up the ball again. The pressure is on!
63- Bedlam in the box! Pickford is sloppy with the ball at his feet, Rodrigo wins it but Pickford recovers to clear the ball out for a corner! The Spain players are livid, they want a penalty! It all simmers down, but Spain is angry, you won't like Spain when they are angry!
61- A real test for England now, The Benito Villamarín has roared back into life! Can they handle the pressure?
57- GOAL! Spain! An immediate impact from Alcacer, who is the leading scorer in the Bundesliga! A delightful header past Pickford! 3-1 Game on?
56- Double sub for Spain. Aspas & Saul make way. Dani Ceballos and Alcacer is on!
55- Saul shapes to shoot from outside the box, it's gathered by Pickford. Meanwhile was that a penalty for England as Rashford fell in the box under pressure from Johnny?
52- Aspas finds himself in space and tamely rolls the ball to Pickford, a wasted chance from the former Liverpool man.
50- Side Netting! What a chance for Spain! Asensio turns and gets a shot away, Joe Gomez with the vital block to turn the ball just the wrong side of the post.
49- A Sighter for Harry Kane who latches onto the ball won from Ben Chilwell. De Gea gathers the ball. Southgate's boys want four!
46- The England away fans are in full voice, it's all on Spain now, can they make claw their way back into the game?
PEEP! Second half! Let's be having you!
Now that is a magical stat if you are an England fan!
3 - Spain have conceded three goals in a competitive home game for the first time ever. Confusion. pic.twitter.com/CnoWN9AvoL — OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 15, 2018
Half-Time! A friend of the beIN SPORTS Live blog Ross Casey is VERY happy! (Hence the caps)
Drink it in lads... DRINK IT IN!!!
What a first half performance!#ESPENG — Ross Casey (@RossCasey24) October 15, 2018
45- Peep! Halftime! What a fantastic 45 minutes from the Three Lions! 3-0 up in Spain!
44- England push up the pitch, Barkley holds the ball up cuts the ball to Sterling who crosses to Kane. Johnny cuts the ball out and heads to De Gea
39- Dangerous Free-kick for Spain, Sauls knocks it into Rodrigo, Maguire gets his big slab head to it! Lovely stuff!
37- GOAL! It's 3-0 England! Ross Barkly with a clipped ball to Kane who guides it into the path of Sterling with a simple tap-in! It's all so easy for the Three Lions! Spain look shellshocked!
34- That was masterful from England on the break! Spain will have a real go for the remainder of the match now. There goes my 1-1 prediction (Not that I care)
28- Goal! England make it 2-0! Rashford! Kane holds the ball perfectly, a through ball and RaShford rolls it past De Gea!
25- Maguire bundles into Thiago. Spain gets the ball moving straight away. It's unfortunate they find themselves 1-0 down, that to that Sterling goal.
21- Asensio has seen plenty of the ball in the early exchanges. He wins a free-kick from Trippier, Thiago Alcántara drills the ball into the box, Rodrigo just misses it and Pickford gathers.
17- Spain hit back! Asensio cuts inside, his shot sails well over the bar.
15- Goal! Rashford with the through ball, and Raheem Sterling smashes it into the top corner! What a finish from the Man City man! 1-0 England
15- England seem to have found their stride in Seville...
10- Yellow for Eric Dier! The Spurs midfielder seemingly wins the ball if with a little bluster against Sergio Ramos. I think it was all about the intention, full bloodied is the word. Dier takes the card.
8- Asensio pounces on a Trippier error. The toe poke is easily gathered by Pickford. McGuire does enough to put the Real Madrid man off his stride.
6- England chance! Sterling nips in a cross, Harry Kane fluffs his chance and ends up on the floor.
4- What a save from Pickford to deny Alonso at the far post from the flicked on corner. England hacks it away. That's three chances for Spain already!
3- A quick corner from Spain, Thiago Alcántara fizzes a shot wide. Spain has started well.
3- Jonny scampers forward from right-back, Spain win a corner.
1- Spain has the ball, carefully keeping possession. Asensio gets his shirt tugged! Free-kick for the hosts.
PEEP! We are underway in Seville!
National Anthem time!
Paul Robinson has just said he fears for England tonight. It's going to OK RIGHT? I mean I know Spain are unbeaten in the Nations League, but I wager that the Three Lions can get somthing. Call it a guess, but I have a feeling that this will be a 1-1 draw.
Preamble
The last time England won in Spain, Gary Lineker scored all four goals! Can Harry Kane and co do the same in Sevilla tonight? We are minutes away from Kick-Off!
Remember this one, @GaryLineker?
🎥 https://t.co/S82kNuNsE5 pic.twitter.com/nE3SEkTkhQ — England (@England) October 15, 2018
Luis Enrique has made a dream start as La Roja boss. Can the former Barca boss guide Spain to the Nations League finals with a win against England tonight?
As for the Three Lions, three changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Croatia. Kieran Trippier is in to replace Kyle Walker. Joe Gomez slots in at center back, and Harry Winks gets his second England cap in midfield.
Here's how the #ThreeLions line up for tonight's #NationsLeague clash! 📋 pic.twitter.com/DyE0QFLCkl — England (@England) October 15, 2018
Team News! Spain! Plenty of changes from the side that beat Wales. Wolves right back Jonny is in and so is Marcos Alonso. Former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas starts in a front three!
⚠ OFICIAL | ¡Ya tenemos ONCE! ¡Estos son los elegidos por @LUISENRIQUE21 para medirnos a @England!
¡A por la victoria y el pase para la Final Four de la UEFA Nations League!#UnaNuevaIlusión pic.twitter.com/WbTOasgiDX — Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) October 15, 2018
Hello! Welcome to the Live Updates of Spain Vs England in the UEFA Nations League! It promises to be a night of thrills and spills in Sevilla, as an undefeated Spain look to book their place in the Finals of the Nations League against England. So stick around, I'll be here with match commentary, all the latest team news and reaction from the studio with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Preview
How to watch Online – beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Channel- HD 11
Kick- Off – 21:45
Stadium- Benito Villamarín, Seville
Spain will be looking to maintain their undefeated streak in the UEFA Nations League when they take on England on Monday evening. You can watch the action from the Benito Villamarín stadium Live & Exclusive with beIN SPORTS Connect.
It’s been a perfect start for new La Roja boss Luis Enrique who has won all three games in charge since replacing Julen Lopetegui. Nations League victories over England and a thumping 6-0 win over Croatia have helped the former Barca boss settle, and whilst a much-changed side comfortably swatted aside Wales 4-1 last week.
Key Man
Borussia Dortmund attacker Paco Alcácer is likely to lead the line in Seville and will be the player to watch out for. The 25-year old is currently the leading goal scorer in the Bundesliga with six goals and has been averaging a goal every 14 minutes. The Barcelona loanee is also fresh from bagging a brace against Wales and could prove to the be the difference maker against an established England backline.
Spain Predicted Team- De Gea; Azpilicueta, Macho, Ramos, Alonso; Koke, Busquets, Thiago; Asensio, Rodrigo, Alcacer
As for England, they will be targeting to pick up a maiden victory in the UEFA Nations League following a 0-0 draw with Croatia. It was a strange atmosphere for the England side to play behind closed doors, denying fans the chance to watch the Three Lions. Although a bunch of England supporters did manage to watch the game from the vantage point of a nearby hill.
Although the few fans would be disappointed by the game, which failed to hit the heights of their World Cup semi-final just three months ago. Both Eric Dier and Harry Kane hit the woodwork, whilst Marcus Rashford was guilty of missing two clear chances which he really should have scored from.
Despite the flat nature of the night in Rijeka, England boss Garth Southgate can be encouraged by the performances of Ben Chilwell at left-back and the late cameo of Jaden Sancho who troubled a tiring Croatia backline on the wing. The Borussia Dortmund star now has a genuine chance of starting in Spain for the Three Lions.
Key Man
Harry Maguire could have a crucial role to play if England is to come away with all three points. The Leicester City defender has firmly established himself as one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet. Spain currently is the leading goal scorers in the UEFA Nations League, and Maguire will have to be at his very best if Spain is not to score for the first time in 26 internationals. Whilst the 25-year old is also a major threat at set pieces for the Three Lions.
England Predicted Team- Pickford; Walker, Gomez, Maguire, Chilwell; Maddison, Dier, Barkley; Sterling, Kane, Rashford
It certainly promises to be a fascinating encounter as Spain look to maintain their strong start to the UEFA Nations League against England. Watch all the action Live & Exclusive on beIN SPORTS CONNECT.