Knockout blow

Shaw carried off with head injury as Southgate’s men succumb to rivals Spain

After a World Cup in which England reconnected with their fans, reignited belief in the national team and showed the way ahead, this was something of a reality check.

In their opening game in the newlycreated Nations League they were

largely out-played by Spain who had splintered so embarrassingly in Russia.

England showed spirit, they dug deep and they even cried injustice as Danny Welbeck was denied what they believed was an equalising goal deep into the nine minutes of injury time. However, Dutch ref Danny Makkelie ruled that the substitute had impeded goalkeeper David De Gea before he turned the ball into the empty net. It appeared soft.

That added time was so extensive because of an injury to Luke Shaw who was carried off on a stretcher after a nasty collision with Dani Carvajal early in the second half. The defender was placed in a neck brace and given oxygen but, later, was conscious and appeared to be OK, although he will continue to undergo further tests and

observation. Shaw, three years to the day since he made his previous start for his country, had appeared to send England on their way as he set up a brilliant opening goal.

But the home side were emphatically pinned back and while England’s scorer, Marcus Rashford, was later twice thwarted by his Manchester United team-mate De Gea it should not distort the fact that Spain were indisputably superior.

Gareth Southgate had spoken about England’s “non-existent” recent record against the world’s leading nations in a competitive fixture, but the search to beat one continues as Spain – under their new coach Luis Enrique – found themselves back on track following their summer turmoil.

They presented the challenge we

know England face: how to close that gap right at the top of world football; how to find midfielders with the control of Thiago Alcantara, Isco or Sergio Busquets or, more realistically, find a way to deal without having them.

At times England could not get close, were even given the runaround, but they showed their deep reserves of togetherness in the final 25 minutes when it appeared that they had been overwhelmed. There was also some encouragement in a tactical tweak by Southgate who introduced Eric Dier and told him to alternate with John Stones who stepped into midfield. Finally there was some variation.

This result represented England’s first defeat at Wembley in a competitive game since Nov 2007 and, oddly, means they have lost three games in a row for

the first time in 30 years after a glorious summer in which they reached their first semi-final in 28 years.

It remains that final point that still matters the most even if, as Southgate has also made clear, they have to press on from here by learning to press better. There is no need to panic; no need to reassess. But the issues need to be addressed and the challenge is set – if there was ever any doubt.

It was encapsulated, in a sense, in the 120 seconds that separated the first two goals – with Shaw heavily involved in both.

Southgate will have been delighted at how England created theirs as they bravely played their way out of trouble from deep in their own half. They outSpained Spain, in fact, with Jordan Henderson eventually flicking the ball

to Harry Kane who turned and saw Shaw in space out on the left, inviting him to run on, which he did. The 24year-old then arced a superb low cross that caught out Nacho with Rashford side-footing it home.

In the stands was Jose Mourinho and he will have taken note – as the Manchester United manager will have done so soon after when Shaw overcommitted and was easily beaten by Carvajal down the England left for the Spain full-back to find Rodrigo who cut the ball back into the path of Saul Niguez. His first-time shot beat Jordan Pickford, even if the goalkeeper got a glove on it.

So England had struck but did not retain control. They could not regroup quickly enough to hold off Spain. They did not have the game-management

necessary to prevent such a response as the visitors began to take control and, ironically, it was they who profited from a set-piece which had been such a potent weapon for England at the World Cup.

Again there was rashness and naivety as Kieran Trippier was penalised for a needless challenge on Marcos Alonso. Thiago whipped in a near post freekick and England were in tatters. Kane failed to track Rodrigo’s run, Stones and Joe Gomez, selected ahead of Kyle Walker, were caught vainly appealing for offside and the former Bolton striker simply tucked the ball in from close-range. It was zonal marking undone in one swift movement.

England had chances. Kane, who had been presented with the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top-scorer

prior to kick-off although he was then subdued, delayed and had the ball stolen away by Saul as he shaped to shoot. Then De Gea quite brilliantly pushed Rashford’s header around a post but Spain gained a stranglehold.

The consolation was that, despite that, Spain did not really create so when the pressure finally relented there was still a game to be saved. Rashford should have done that when put clear by Kane, but De Gea saved with his legs. Kane sent the rebound wide from a tight angle. Then the ball was hoisted high and as De Gea came to collect.

Welbeck stood his ground, the goalkeeper spilt the ball and England thought they had salvaged an unlikely point. Maybe ruling the “goal” out was unjust. But then so would have been a draw. Spain were better. Far better.