Lions let it slip

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

England lost 3-2 to Spain in their UEFA Nations League opener at Wembley, with the visitors scoring early and capitalizing on crucial defensive errors and a missed penalty by Harry Kane. The defeat highlights England’s defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistency under new manager Thomas Tuchel, leaving them with just one point from two matches in the group.

England suffered a 3-2 defeat to Spain in their opening UEFA Nations League match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, in a contest marked by early setbacks and fluctuating momentum. The game marked Thomas Tuchel’s first competitive outing as England manager since their World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina and came against the side that had beaten them in the Euro 2024 final.

Spain struck quickly through 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who capitalized on a defensive error by Marc Guehi to score inside the second minute. The visitors dominated the early proceedings and came close to extending their lead on several occasions, testing England’s recently appointed goalkeeper James Trafford, who was surprisingly selected ahead of Jordan Pickford.

Despite the rocky start, England rallied as the first half progressed. Elliott Anderson seized on a mistake by Spain’s Nico Williams to regain possession, setting up Anthony Gordon, who sent a low drive into the net from outside the area in the 36th minute. Shortly afterward, Harry Kane headed home from a cross but the goal was inadvertently helped over the line by Spain’s Marc Cucurella, giving England a 2-1 advantage going into halftime.

The second half began with England looking to build on their lead, but their momentum faltered after Kane was awarded a penalty in the 54th minute following a VAR review of a foul on Jude Bellingham. Kane’s spot-kick hit the crossbar after he slipped as he struck the ball, a missed opportunity that allowed Spain to regroup.

Spain’s substitutes proved decisive as Alex Baena leveled the match from a long-range effort following a misplaced back pass by England’s Nico O’Reilly. The visitors then seized the initiative, with Baena setting up Euro 2024 final hero Mikel Oyarzabal to score the winning goal in the 74th minute. Despite late pressure and threats from Yamal, England could not find a late equalizer.

The match exposed defensive lapses and highlighted England’s struggles to maintain composure under pressure, particularly in key moments such as Kane’s penalty miss. For Tuchel, who emphasized the need to “embrace the chaos” of English football, the performance provided much to reflect on as England navigate their return to the Nations League’s top tier. The defeat leaves the host nation with just one point from two matches so far in the competition.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.