THE SPREE Southgate’s Three Lions go Ster crazy as Spanish are

IT will go down as one of the great England nights.

An unforgettable occasion when Gareth Southgate’s men destroyed one of European football’s best, the first time for 15 years Spain had lost a competitive game at home.

And the first time they had conceded three goals at home in a competitive fixture.

Those who thought England got lucky in reaching the World Cup semi-final should think again. This magical night transported us back to the heady days of summer.

England were fabulous, brilliantly ruthless and produced arguably the most memorable scoreline since thrashing Germany 5-1 in Munich in 2001. The performance was every bit as good.

Raheem Sterling ended his three-year goal drought and, having scored just twice in 45 games for England, grabbed two in 45 minutes.

Marcus Rashford’s finish was superb and Harry Kane looked every inch a world-class centre-forward despite not getting on the scoresheet. Keeper Jordan Pickford’s precision long balls forward were a big feature of the win as Southgate’s men defended for their lives, rampaged through midfield and were lethal in attack.

They fought for each other, battled and tackled and, despite being under heavy pressure for long periods, held on. In the far corner of the Estadio Benito Villamarin, England fans chanted: “Are you Scotland in disguise?” This is just not supposed to happen. England had 27 per cent of possession yet a forward line which had supposedly forgotten how to score seized on every opportunity.

It was like the Alamo early on as Spain threw everything at England, who held on thanks to Pickford’s heroics and some desperate defending. But maybe the turning point came with Eric Dier’s thunderous tackle on Sergio Ramos. Down went the Spain defender and Dier was booked, although the challenge looked hard but fair.

It set the tone, though and England refused to be intimidated. Despite all Spain’s pressure it was the visitors who went ahead on 16 minutes, Pickford’s long clearance finding Kane, who fed Rashford to play in Sterling.

Sterling took one touch and smashed a shot into the top corner. It was his first Three Lions goal in 1,102 days and one to cherish. Then 13