Roy Keane pushed back against Anthony Gordon’s confident assessment that England are on equal footing with Spain after the reigning World Cup champions rallied from a deficit to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s side 3-2 in the opening match of the Nations League. The Spanish side extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 39 games with the victory on English soil, but the result could have swung dramatically in England’s favour had Harry Kane converted a second‑half penalty after his header had given the hosts a 2-1 lead before the interval. Kane’s miss proved to be the turning point. In the moments that followed, Alex Baena, who had come on as a substitute, levelled the score, and shortly thereafter he set up fellow sub Mikel Oyarzabal, whose decisive strike ultimately broke England’s heart – a player who would later be instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 final triumph.

Gordon, who had netted England’s equaliser after a swift counter‑attack, argued that the performance demonstrated the team’s quality and that they were capable of beating any side. "I don’t think there’s a gap between us and Spain – I feel we’re right there," he told ITV Sport. "We could have won the game easily. If the penalty had gone in we would have been ahead and could have taken the win.

In hindsight it’s easy to say that, but I felt good during the match. I don’t see a gap and I think if we met them in a final I’d be confident.

Confidence doesn’t always equal victory, but tonight we showed we’re a top team." Keane, speaking for Sky Sports on ITV Sport, disagreed sharply: "I don’t share Gordon’s view. There is a gap.

Spain are world champions, European champions – that’s a big difference." He emphasized the experience and pedigree that Spain bring to every encounter. England had surged ahead with two goals in a rapid four‑minute spell just before the break – a tally that exceeded the total number of goals Spain had conceded throughout the entire World Cup.

Yet the hosts failed to capitalise on that dominance after the restart, with Kane’s missed spot‑kick proving decisive. Spain, on the other hand, displayed ruthless efficiency.

Lamine Yamal seized on a Marc Guehi error to open the scoring after just two minutes, while Baena’s equaliser came directly after a misplaced pass from Nico O'Reilly. Tuchel, reflecting on the match, admitted that small details had cost his side: "We did everything to beat Spain. At this level, details matter.

We made too many clear‑cut mistakes. In the last 20 metres they were more clinical and composed, turning our losses into chances.

We had our opportunities, but we didn’t finish them." He added, "We wanted desperately to be the team that beats them. At half‑time we thought we had them, but the second half showed a different story.

Execution and composure in the final 20 metres were on a higher level from our opponents." Spain manager Luis de la Fuente echoed a similar sentiment, saying his side were largely in control except for a brief six‑to‑seven‑minute spell when England surged ahead. "The game was under control most of the time, except for those few minutes when England dominated. We got disconnected. Against a rival like England, a super‑power, this can happen.

I think we had the game under control," he explained. Rob Dorsett, senior correspondent for Sky Sports News at Wembley, summed up the drama: "One captain’s slip, one missed penalty – a missed opportunity for England, though it’s hard to argue Spain weren’t the superior side over 90 minutes. The world champions could have been out of sight within 30 minutes after a dominant display, but a couple of self‑destructive England passes kept them in the game." He continued, "The fact that Spain were only a goal ahead gave England hope, and a stunning ten‑minute spell saw England grab the lead. First, a brilliant goal from their best player of the night, Anthony Gordon, then a header from captain Kane.

The home side started the second half well, but when Kane missed from the spot, Spain sensed blood. Their response – strikes from Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal – was decisive and deserved.

It was a defeat with some merit for Tuchel’s England, but a gulf in class still remains." Looking ahead, England’s schedule remains packed. They travel to face the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, at 7.45pm, then head to Croatia on Saturday, October 3, at 5pm, before returning to host the Czech Republic again on Tuesday, October 6, at 7.45pm. Fans can also join the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available.

The upcoming fixtures will provide further opportunities for England to test whether the gap Gordon perceives truly exists, and whether Keane’s warning proves prescient as they aim to close the distance with Europe’s elite.