LUKE SICKENER
Shaw suffers horror injury on painful night for English
England........................... 1 Spain ............................... 2 England’s Nations League curtain- raiser began in heartbreaking fashion last night as unlucky Luke Shaw suffered yet another horrific injury.
A sickening collision just minutes into the second half spelled the end of his game as the Manchester United left- back picked up what appeared to be a serious head injury.
The incident – which was not shown in replays on broadcasters – came when Shaw went into a challenge with Spain’s Dani Carvajal.
Play was then stopped for around seven minutes as medics rushed on to the field before Shaw eventually left the field on a stretcher, equipped with a neck brace and oxygen mask.
It comes after Shaw suffered a tibia fracture in 2015 that saw him sidelined for over a year.
And the 23-year-old must feel like he’s cursed after battling back to fitness and form this season.
Thankfully for Shaw, he was recovering well in hospital and was talking to friends last night, easing fears that his latest injury was too serious.
New Spain boss Luis Enrique went for a 4-3-3 formation with Rodrigo leading the line in only his 10th cap for Spain.
England went for the 3-5-2 formation that saw them generate so much success at the World Cup in the summer.
Joe Gomez slotted into the right side of the three-man defence, while Shaw was rewarded for his excellent domestic form at Manchester United with a starting spot at left wing-back.
And Southgate’s choice was vindicated as Shaw assisted the opener scored by Marcus Rashford after just 10 minutes.
Harry Kane collected the ball in the centre- circle and spread it out to the rampaging Shaw.
His pass across to his club- mate
Rashford was laser- guided, curving just out of reach of Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez.
And Rashford took the opportunity to slide the bal l underneath another Manchester United man in Spain keeper David De Gea.
But the 2012 Euros winners hit back not two minutes later.
Real Madrid’s Carvajal sped down the right and fed in Rodrigo. The number nine managed to get to the byline and clipped a waist- height ball into the path of Saul Niguez.
It was a difficult ball to manipulate, but the midfielder wrapped a boot around it and struck low past Jordan Pickford in the England net.
Wembley Stadium, raucous from Rashford ’ s opener, was silenced within seconds. And La Roja completed their comeback in 31 minutes after Kieran Tripper committed a foul on the corner of the penalty area.
Thiago’s pacy delivery towards the six- yard box was just begging to be tapped home – and Rodrigo sauntered through unmarked to blast the bal l past a helpless Pickford.
The former Bolton Wanderers man had an outstanding season at Valencia last term, scoring or assisting in two out of every three games he played. It certainly showed.
England almost managed to copy Spain’s quick- f ire equalising feat as Rashford had a header denied by the fingertips of his Red Devils teammate.
Just a few minutes after the restart, the beast of injury reared it’s ugly head again at the unlucky Shaw.
After years of injury hell and being frozen out of Jose Mourinho’s United, this season had begun to look like a breakthrough year for him.
Half-time coupled with the lengthy injury delay stif led the frantic pace of the game.
But any chances that did come went the way of the Spaniards. Firstly Thiago let fly from distance, grazing the roof of the net, before Marcos Alonso stung the gloves of Pickford with a drive.
England’s star striker Kane – dormant for most of the game –spurned a decent chance as he was played through one-onone by Spurs team-mate Trippier only to see the offside flag go up.
England pressed for an equaliser late on. Rashford, by far the Three Lions’ biggest threat going forward, picked the bal l up outside the area before skipping past a Spain defender. But yet again, David De Gea was there to block.
England went close yet again towards the end as colossal defender Harry Maguire headed wide from a corner.
Nine minutes of injury time was added after the incident involving Shaw.
And they thought they had made the time count after substitute Danny Welbeck had found the net.
But an apparent foul on De Gea prompted a free-kick – and Spain emerged with the victory.