Roy Keane pushed back against Anthony Gordon's claim that England are on par with Spain after the world champions rallied from a deficit to defeat Thomas Tuchel's side 3-2 in the opening match of the Nations League. While Spain extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 39 games with a dramatic win at Wembley, the result might have looked very different if Harry Kane had converted a second‑half penalty after heading England ahead 2-1 before the interval. Kane's miss proved to be the turning point.
The English lead evaporated when Alex Baena, who came on as a substitute, levelled the score, and a few minutes later fellow sub Mikel Oyarzabal seized the decisive goal. Oyarzabal, who later broke England's heart in the Euro 2024 final, completed the comeback that left the home crowd stunned. Gordon, who had netted England's equaliser after a swift counter‑attack, argued that the performance was enough to secure victory and demonstrated that England belong among the elite. "I don't think there is a gap to 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 in a commanding position. In hindsight it's always easy to say that, but I felt good in the game.
I don't see a gap and I think if we met them in a final I would have been confident. Confidence doesn't always translate into a win, but tonight you saw we're a top team." Keane, appearing as a pundit for Sky Sports on ITV, responded sharply: "I disagree with Gordon.
I think there is a gap. Spain are world champions, European champions – that says something." His assessment underscored the lingering disparity between the two nations despite England's moments of brilliance.
England had exploded into life in the first half, scoring two goals in a four‑minute burst just before the break – more than Spain had conceded across the entire World Cup tournament. Yet the English side failed to capitalise on that dominance after the restart, and Kane's missed spot‑kick became the decisive moment. Spain, on the other hand, displayed ruthless efficiency.
Lamine Yamal capitalised on a mistake from Marc Guehi to open the scoring after just two minutes, and Baena's equaliser arrived directly after a misplaced pass from Nico O'Reilly. Tuchel, reflecting on the match, admitted: "We did everything today to beat Spain. Details matter at this level. Clear‑cut mistakes were too high on our side, unfortunately.
In the last 20 metres they were more clinical and composed, turning our ball losses into clear chances. Still we had them and we had our chance to beat them." He added that his team had entered the half‑time break believing they were in control: "We wanted desperately to be the team to beat them.
We thought we had them at half‑time. That was the way the team showed up after half‑time.
It happens too often today and we get punished on the highest level. The execution and composure in the final 20 metres was on the highest level from our opponents." Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente echoed a similar sentiment, saying his side were largely in charge 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 us.
We got disconnected. Against a rival like England, a superpower, this can happen. I think we had the game under control," he explained. Senior Sky Sports News correspondent Rob Dorsett summed up the drama at Wembley: "One captain's slip, one memorable scalp that slipped away.
A missed penalty and a missed opportunity for England – though it's hard to argue that Spain weren't the far superior side over 90 minutes. The world champions could have been out of sight within 30 minutes after a dominant display of their prowess and a couple of self‑destructive England passes.
The fact that Spain were only a goal ahead gave England hope, and it was a stunning 10‑minute spell that saw England grab the lead." Dorsett continued, highlighting the key moments: "Firstly, a brilliant goal from their best player on the night, Anthony Gordon, and then from captain Kane with a header. But the home side started the second half really well, and when Kane missed from the spot to give 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 merit then, for Tuchel's England. But there still seems to be a gulf in class." The match illustrated the fine margins that separate elite teams.
England's early dominance, the swift counter‑attack that produced Gordon's goal, and Kane's aerial header showcased their attacking potential. Yet the inability to convert a clear penalty opportunity highlighted a psychological edge that Spain still possess. Spain's composure in the final stages, their clinical finishing, and the tactical discipline displayed by de la Fuente's side reaffirmed why they remain at the summit of international football. Looking ahead, England will need to address the mental resilience required in high‑pressure moments.
The upcoming fixtures – a trip to the Czech Republic on September 29, a clash with Croatia on October 3, and a home game against the Czechs on October 6 – will provide further opportunities to gauge the gap Gordon believes does not exist. Whether Keane's warning proves prescient or Gordon's optimism holds will be decided on the pitch in the weeks to come.
In the broader context, the Nations League serves as a testing ground for both squads ahead of the next major tournament. Spain, already seasoned by a World Cup triumph, will look to fine‑tune the details that Tuchel praised, while England must learn from the penalty miss and the defensive lapses that allowed Yamal and Baena to exploit gaps. The narrative of a "gap" may be more about consistency and experience than raw talent, and the forthcoming matches will likely illuminate where each team truly stands.
For fans, the drama of a 3‑2 thriller, the heartbreak of a missed penalty, and the lingering debate over comparative quality will fuel discussions across pubs and social media. As the season progresses, the question remains: can England close the distance, or will Spain's sustained excellence keep them a step ahead?