ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Spain defeated England 3-2 at Wembley to extend their unbeaten run to 39 matches.
- Lamine Yamal opened scoring in two minutes, but England led 2-1 at halftime.
- De la Fuente praised his squad's resilience and ability to control the match.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Spain’s unbeaten streak is less a testament to relentless dominance and more a showcase of their ability to absorb pressure and find a way back. Lamine Yamal struck after just two minutes to give La Roja the lead, but England’s Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane turned the game around before the break. Harry Kane then saw a penalty crash off the bar in the 54th minute, after which Spain seized control. Álex Baena levelled on the hour and Mikel Oyarzabal netted the winner in the 74th, taking the run to 39 matches without loss.
Luis de la Fuente admitted his side was disconnected for only six or seven minutes, yet praised the squad’s hunger and the impact of substitutes like Ferran Torres. He insists there is still room for improvement despite the world‑class talent on show.
Their next Nations League fixture will show whether they can stretch the unbeaten run to forty.
WHY IT MATTERS
This victory cements Spain's status as global football's dominant force, extending their unbeaten streak to 39 games. It highlights their ability to overcome early deficits against elite opposition.
TACTICAL FIT
Spain demonstrated superior spatial control and resilience, quickly recovering from England's defensive frailties. De la Fuente highlighted the squad's adaptability and collective sacrifice in maintaining possession.
THE DEBATE
Is Spain's 39-game unbeaten run sustainable against top-tier opposition?
•Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours
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LONDON -- Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said his side controlled the match against England and believes his world champions still have room to improve after they won 3-2 at Wembley in their Nations League tie on Saturday evening.
Spain punished England's frailties in defence with Lamine Yamal scoring after just two minutes to open the scoring. Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scored two quickfire goals before half time as the hosts went into the break 2-1 ahead. England had the chance to go 3-1 up in the 54th minute but Kane slammed a penalty against the bar after Jude Bellingham was fouled. From there Spain took control and equalised through Álex Baena on the hour mark with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winner in the 74th minute.
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That makes it 39 matches unbeaten for the reigning European and world champions, and afterwards, De La Fuente said England only had a brief spell where they managed to get a foothold in the match and believes his Spain team can improve even further.
"I think the game was under control most of the time, apart from the six or seven minutes where we got disconnected and they punished us. We had to pay more attention to cover the spaces against a rival against England and a superpower with their talent -- but I think we had the game under control.
"This generation is exceptional and they are still hungry, and still want to keep playing. Numbers are objective indicators of what we see -- but we still want to improve and grow."
Spain players celebrate after beating England in the Nations League at Wembley Stadium.Getty Images
Overall, De La Fuente was delighted with the impact the substitutes had and how the team continued pushing to find ways to get through England despite spurning decent opportunities.
"All the praise goes to the players," De la Fuente said. "They are a group and we talked about this yesterday -- we've formed a team that goes beyond professional level. We make sacrifices -- but the players adapt to the models we impose and I respect their ambition -- they want to grow, and there is room for improvement.
"We had clear chances, but we missed those but I'd like to underline our capacity to come back [from a goal down]. Even if we were 3-1 down, we'd have come back like we did from 2-1. The important thing is we bounced back."
Ferran Torres started up front for Spain and had a couple of opportunities in the first half to punish England, but put one effort wide and saw another well saved by James Trafford.
"The important thing is Ferran is a beast in front of goal," De la Fuente said. "I'm satisfied with his performance and attitude -- everything is teamwork. It doesn't matter who comes on -- the important thing is they help each other as a team."
And on Yamal, De la Fuente said: "Yamal is an exceptional player, and he adapts to every moment in every game. He adapts and plays according to the moment and what's necessary."
Eric García was a late withdrawal from the side, but De la Fuente said the injury "doesn't look serious." The Barcelona defender will be assessed back in Madrid.
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed