Roy Keane pushed back against Anthony Gordon’s optimistic view that England are on equal footing with Spain after the World Cup champions rallied from a deficit to beat Thomas Tuchel’s side 3-2 in the opening match of the Nations League. The Spanish side stretched their unbeaten streak to an impressive 39 games with a hard‑won victory at Wembley, but the result might have looked very different if Harry Kane’s second‑half spot‑kick had found the net after his header had put England ahead 2-1 before the interval. Kane’s miss proved to be a turning point. In the moments that followed, Alex Baena, who had been introduced from the bench, levelled the score, and shortly thereafter his teammate Mikel Oyarzabal, also a substitute, tucked away the decisive goal.
Oyarzabal’s finish would later echo in the Euro 2024 final, where he again broke England’s heart. Gordon, who had netted England’s equaliser after a swift counter‑attack, argued that the performance demonstrated that his side could compete with the best. "I don’t think there’s a gap between us and Spain – we’re right there," he told ITV Sport. "If that penalty had gone in we could have taken the game.
In hindsight it’s easy to say, but I felt good on the pitch. I don’t see a gap, and if we met them in a final I’d be confident.
Confidence doesn’t always win you the match, but tonight we showed we’re a top‑class team." Keane, speaking for Sky Sports on the same broadcast, disagreed sharply: "I don’t share Gordon’s view. There is a gap.
Spain are world champions and European champions – that says something." Before the match, Gordon had echoed Tuchel’s criticism that England struggle to dominate possession. After the game, in a mixed‑zone interview with Sky Sports News, he elaborated: "What I said during the week was about how Spain control the ball – they’re incredible at it, the best in the world.
That doesn’t mean we’re bad; we’re good, but not at their level, in my opinion. However, we excel in other areas.
My goal summed it up – the directness, the speed of transition from defence to attack. That’s our English style, neat and tidy." England’s early dominance was evident.
They struck twice within a four‑minute window just before the break – a tally that eclipsed the total number of goals Spain conceded throughout the entire World Cup. Yet the second half saw the momentum swing, with Kane’s missed penalty becoming the decisive moment. Spain’s resurgence began early in the second half when Lamine Yamal capitalised on a mistake by Marc Guehi to open the scoring after just two minutes. Baena’s equaliser came straight after a misplaced pass from Nico O'Reilly, underscoring England’s defensive lapses.
Tuchel reflected on the defeat: "We did everything we could to beat Spain. At this level, details matter.
Our mistakes were too many, especially in the final 20 metres where they were clinical and composed, turning our errors into clear chances. We wanted to be the team that beat them, we thought we had them at half‑time, but the second half showed otherwise. It’s a harsh lesson – execution and composure at the end decide games at this level." Harry Kane, trying to keep a positive outlook, told Sky Sports News that England should not become "downbeat" after the loss. He highlighted the period from the 15th to the 60th minute as one of the best displays England have produced in a long time, praising the intensity, the chances created, and the two goals scored.
"We need fewer mistakes, both conceding goals and the penalty. Those three moments cost us. It’s not a game to be too downbeat about – there are many positives and good performances. On another night the result could have been different," he said.
Kane added that England have yet to string together a full 90 minutes against top opposition, noting that the team still struggles to maintain concentration and composure in the decisive phases of a match. Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente felt his side were largely in control, except for a brief six‑to‑seven‑minute spell when England surged forward. "We were disconnected for a short period, which can happen against a rival like England, a super‑power.
Overall we had the game under control," he explained. Senior Sky Sports correspondent Rob Dorsett summed up the drama at Wembley: "One captain’s slip, one missed penalty – England missed a golden opportunity, 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 passes kept them in the game. England’s ten‑minute spell gave them hope, with Anthony Gordon’s brilliant goal and Kane’s header.
The second half started well for England, but Kane’s missed spot‑kick allowed Spain to sense blood, and Baena and Oyarzabal responded decisively. 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 with challenging fixtures: a trip to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29 at 7.45 pm, a clash with Croatia on Saturday, October 3 at 5 pm, and a home game against the Czech Republic again on Tuesday, October 6 at 7.45 pm.
Fans can also join the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available. Overall, the match highlighted England’s potential – their ability to score quickly, press intensely, and create chances – but also underscored the fine margins that separate them from the world’s elite. The Spanish side’s experience, composure in the final third, and clinical finishing proved decisive, reinforcing Keane’s point that a gap still exists, even if England are closing it gradually.