Lineker scored FOUR goals in 32 mins vs Spain 31 years ago

Not since a rain-soaked Madrid evening in 1987 when Gary Lineker was dubbed 'the executioner of Spain' by the Catalan press has an England player scored in an international on Spanish soil.

Lineker scored four times in 32 minutes at the Bernabeu to give Bobby Robson's side a 4-2 victory. His goals at the home of Real Madrid came just 18 days after he plundered a Clasico hat-trick for Barcelona against their arch rivals.

'The Spaniards can't stop this man in their First Division,' exclaimed John Motson in his excellent BBC commentary after Lineker slotted in his fourth goal, 'and they can't stop him tonight in the international arena either.'

Spain had lost only one of 17 matches before this friendly and were tipped as favourites for Euro 1988.

England manager Robson, celebrating his 54th birthday, named a strong side including Peter Shilton, Viv Anderson, Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson, Steve Hodge and Glenn Hoddle.

Lineker was supported in attack by the pace and trickery of Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley.

There was a first cap for 20-year-old Arsenal centre back Tony Adams, the first player born after the 1966 World Cup final to represent England.

The conditions were hardly ideal. 'The weather was miserable and it was a muddy pitch with rain coming down,' Motson previously wrote in Sportsmail.

'It was so bad I struggled to recognise who scored three of England's four goals!'

Lineker himself has described them as 'three scrambled tap-ins and one good goal' but they demonstrated the striker's grit, determination and laser-sharp finishing.

All four were scored past his Barca team-mate Andoni Zubizarreta.

His first made it 1-1 after Emilio Butragueno's opener. Hoddle chipped a cross to the far post which Lineker met with a stooping header.

Four minutes later Hoddle swung in a free-kick, Anderson knocked it down and Lineker slid in. He brought up his hat-trick with another header after half-time, outjumping Jose Camacho to pounce on the rebound from Beardsley's shot.

But he saved the best until last.

Beardsley dinked a delightful ball into the penalty area and Lineker darted between two defenders before beating Zubizarreta with an inch-perfect left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Ramon Vazquez scored a late consolation but Spanish players and fans were left in awe.

'I had flown over with my Barcelona team-mates and there was plenty of banter,' Lineker told Sportsmail in 2014.

'Terry Venables was on the flight. He was my Barcelona manager and was working for the BBC that night.

'After the game, Zubizarreta came into the England dressing room and said in his best cockney accent, trying to sound like Terry, "f****** hell". It was very funny.'

Zubizarreta quipped on Sunday: 'I only forgave Gary because he also scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid.'

The Catalan press were full of praise for their adopted son.

'After what we saw yesterday no one can doubt Lineker is the best striker in Europe,' read Sport's match report.

'In the six-yard box he is a nightmare for any defence and yesterday no Spanish player could prevent the Barcelonista from giving a lesson the Spanish fans will never forget.'

Lineker's haul took him to 18 goals in 21 caps, a return matched only by Nat Lofthouse and Jimmy Greaves.

It remains the last time England have tasted victory in Spain with Graham Taylor, Sven Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson since returning goalless.

Should Harry Kane be in need of inspiration to end his six-game goal drought on Monday, he could do worse than look up Lineker's four-star masterclass.