Game is over and the final score is Spain 2-3 England. Spain's 43-game unbeaten run ends by the Three Lions! Kane was tackled behind by Cubarsi and converted the penalty into a 0-1 lead. In the 2nd half, despite Anderson's red card, Konsa and Ben White's 2 goals in 4 minutes consolidated England's lead. Oyarzabal's penalty and William's shot assisted by Yamal did pull back some surprises, there were no further progress for both sides. After today's victory, England advanced to the UEFA Nation's League Quarter-Finals with the top spot in Group A3.
Match Report:
Ten-man England survived a scare as they claimed top spot in Nations League Group A3 with a 3-2 defeat of Spain in Madrid.
Spain's 43-game unbeaten streak came to an end at the Metropolitano, where England turned in what was arguably their best display under Thomas Tuchel.
Harry Kane deservedly put the Three Lions ahead from the penalty spot shortly before half-time, with quickfire goals from Arsenal duo Ezri Konsa and Ben White putting England into dreamland prior to the hour.
Yet Jarell Quansah's blunder led to Elliot Anderson's dismissal as the midfielder desperately dragged back Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal converted the resultant spot-kick before Nico Williams set up a grandstand finale, but England held on.
England set the tone from the off. Unai Simon thwarted Jude Bellingham, and Kane dragged a crisp, low strike just wide from the edge of the area.
The Three Lions got their reward when Kane was felled in Spain's box by Pau Cubarsi.
Spain wanted the penalty to be overturned, claiming Anderson had fouled Marc Cucurella in the build-up, but VAR stood by on-field referee Clement Turpin, and Kane picked out the bottom corner in the 45th minute.
And England ultimately took the game away from Spain in a blistering spell after the restart. Konsa headed home unmarked from Declan Rice's brilliant corner in the 53rd minute and, four minutes later, White slotted in at the end of a superb move.
England's joy turned to fear, though, when Quansah's error gifted Yamal a chance to rush through, leading to Anderson's last-man foul. Oyarzabal made no mistake from the spot 65 minutes in.
James Trafford made a sharp stop to deny Fermin Lopez, but there was nothing England's goalkeeper could do as Yamal squared for Williams to tuck in after Anthony Gordon was dispossessed.
Yet Trafford then came up with the key moments late on, pulling off a string of impressive stops, including a superb double save in stoppage time, to get England over the line.
Spain finally toppled as Trafford stands tall
Jordan Pickford is still seen as England's first-choice goalkeeper, but there is no doubt he has serious competition in the form of Trafford.
The former Manchester City goalkeeper showed his shot-stopping ability, making six saves, though his double effort, from Fermin and then Aymeric Laporte on the rebound, was the highlight.
For much of this contest, England were dominant and in complete control. In the first half, left-back Lewis Hall completed five dribbles; Spain's 10 outfielders combined did not complete one.
England had never led by more than one goal in a game against the number one ranked team in the world, so perhaps it was all just going a bit too well when White put them 3-0 up.
Quansah, who was at fault for Croatia's goal on Thursday, made another bad error, and from there, England looked like they could capitulate.
But after Williams dragged Spain to within a goal of a memorable comeback with 15 minutes still to go, Tuchel shut up shop. And unlike against Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, this time, it worked for England.
The Three Lions have now won their last 10 away games, which marks a new record.
Spain, meanwhile, have suffered just their second home defeat in the space of 41 matches, dating back to a 3-2 defeat to England in 2018. This also marked La Roja's first defeat in Madrid since a loss to the Three Lions way back in February 1987.
Luis de la Fuente's men, who created chances worth 2.73 expected goals to England's 2.28 xG, qualify for the quarter-finals in second place, and will have to lick their wounds after their remarkable 968-day unbeaten run (the longest by a European nation) came to a halt.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Match Event for Spain vs England
4' Highlight from Spain vs England
5' Match Event for Spain vs England
15' Match Event for Spain vs England
18' Highlight from Spain vs England
19' Match Event for Spain vs England
21' Match Event for Spain vs England
26' Match Event for Spain vs England
36' Highlight from Spain vs England
42' Match Event for Spain vs England
45' GOAL! Spain 0-1 England
46' Match Event for Spain vs England
50' Highlight from Spain vs England
53' GOAL! Spain 0-2 England (Ezri Konsa)
58' GOAL! Spain 0-3 England
63' Red Card! Elliot Anderson sent off
66' GOAL! Spain 1-3 England
68' Match Event for Spain vs England
75' GOAL! Spain 2-3 England (Nico Williams)
85' Match Event for Spain vs England
90' Highlight from Spain vs England
Line-ups
Spain XI: Laporte, Merino, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Oyarzabal, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Marc Pubill, Yamal, Cubarsi
Subs: David Raya, Roca, Ferran Torres, Porro, Yeremy, Pedri, Joan García, Nico Williams, Fermín López, Barrios, Víctor Muñoz, Dean Huijsen
England XI: Kane, Rice, Elliot Anderson, Ngoyo, Ben White, Morgan Rogers, Gordon, James Trafford, Bellingham, Quansah, Lewis Hall
Subs: Steele, Burn, Pickford, Calvert-Lewin, Alexander-Arnold, Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, Spence, James Hill, Jobe Bellingham, Lewis-Skelly, Rio Ngumoha
/MADRIDISTA
39
Always disappears in big matches😂 If not for England’s red card, Spain would receive like 5 nil[Crylaugh]
Toddiosuyz
28
Bellingham... Best Midfielder in the world 💯%
AlwaysSoccer
27
If it wasn't for that red card, England would have been charged for raping Spain...
DallasDK
22
If you want to check out the gif, just click here: https://www.matchgif.com/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54419573&language=en
Nadeemhasan24
15
Does this brother know what a bad game is ? MASTERCLASS EVERYDAY‼️
/MADRIDISTA
14
Bellingham is 10x better than all midfielders
Nadeemhasan24
13
Another big game performance 👏😂