Roy Keane slammed Gordon’s claim that England sit level with Spain after the world champions rallied to win 3-2. Could England really claim parity with Spain?
Spain pushed their unbeaten streak to 39 games with the Wembley victory, yet the result might have flipped if Harry Kane hadn’t missed a second‑half penalty after his header put England 2-1 ahead at the break.
The tide turned when Kane slipped, allowing Alex Baena to equalise off the bench before he set up fellow substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, the man who broke England’s heart in the Euro 2024 final.
Gordon, who netted England’s leveller from a swift counter, argued the display proved they could have taken the win and showed they belong among the elite.
“I don’t think there’s a gap to Spain; I feel we’re right there,” Gordon told ITV Sport. “We could have won easily if the penalty had gone in. In hindsight it’s simple, but I felt good on the pitch.”
“No gap exists and I’d have been confident facing them in a final. Confidence doesn’t always equal victory, yet tonight we proved we’re a top side,” he added.
Before kickoff, Gordon echoed Tuchel’s belief that England struggle to dominate possession, a flaw the Barcelona forward said resurfaced in defeat.
“We excel elsewhere. My goal summed it up – the directness, the speed from one strike to the next. That’s our English way, neat and tidy,” he explained.
Tuchel: We thought we had Spain at half‑time
England rattled two goals in a four‑minute burst before halftime – more than Spain conceded in the entire World Cup – but the comeback stalled as Kane’s missed spot‑kick became the decisive moment.
Spain were merciless, with Lamine Yamal pouncing on Marc Guehi’s error to score after two minutes, and Baena’s equaliser arriving straight after a mis‑placed pass from Nico O’Reilly.
“We gave everything to beat Spain,” Tuchel said post‑match. “At this level details matter. Our clear‑cut errors were too many, and in the final 20 metres they were sharper and calmer with our chances.”
“Still we had them and we had our chance to win,” he continued.
He added, “We were desperate to be the team that beat them. We thought we had the game at half‑time, and that mindset showed after the break.”
“Too often today we’re punished at the highest level. Their execution and composure in the last 20 metres were outstanding,” Tuchel observed.
Kane not ‘downbeat’ on Spain defeat
Kane says England must stay upbeat and extract “a lot of positives” from the Wembley loss.
“The intensity, with and without the ball, the chances we created, the goals we scored – but against an unbeaten side you need fewer mistakes, both conceding and the penalty. Those three moments cost us,” he noted.
“It’s not a game to get downbeat about. Plenty of positives and strong performances were there,” he added.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow because another night could have produced a different result,” he conceded.
He stressed, “The stretch from the 20th to the 60th minute is our lesson. At the World Cup we didn’t string a full 90 together, and we still haven’t against a quality side tonight.”
“When those moments arise, you must seize the bigger chances – that’s likely the current difference,” he concluded.
Spain boss: We had the game under control
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente believed his side controlled the match except for the brief period before halftime when England surged ahead.
“We were in charge most of the time, except for six or seven minutes when England dominated,” he said.
“We got disconnected. Against a rival like England, a superpower, that can happen. I think we regained control,” he added.
Analysis: ‘Missed penalty and a missed opportunity for England’
“One captain’s slip, one memorable scalp that slipped away,” he lamented.
“A missed penalty and a missed chance for England – yet it’s hard to argue Spain weren’t the superior side over 90 minutes,” he remarked.
“The world champions could have been out of sight within 30 minutes after a dominant display, plus a couple of self‑destructive England passes,” he observed.
“Spain being only a goal ahead gave England hope, and a stunning 10‑minute spell saw them take the lead,” he noted.
“First, a brilliant strike from their night’s best player, Anthony Gordon, then a header from captain Kane,” he recalled.
“But the home side began the second half strongly, and when Kane missed the spot‑kick, Spain sensed blood. Their response via Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal was decisive and deserved,” he said.
“A defeat with some merit for Tuchel’s England, yet a class gap still seems evident,” he concluded.
Tuesday September 29: Czech Republic (A), kick‑off 7.45pm
Saturday October 3: Croatia (A), kick‑off 5pm
Tuesday October 6: Czech Republic (H), kick‑off 7.45pm