England sting Spain with Sterling display
PLAYING TO POTENTIAL Win over La Roja gives the Three Lions a rare feeling of beating the best
SEVILLE, SPAIN: Even as the noise swelled and t he pressure mounted, Gareth Southgate stood firm as the youngest England side t his century recorded a statement win in Spain.
After an electric first half that had witnessed three slick breakaway goals, England were creaking, as Paco Alcacer headed in for 3-1 and Jordan Pickford almost gifted Rodrigo a second.
On the touchline, Southgate stayed arms folded, making one change before the 85th minute, and that came in the 76th, Kyle Walker replacing a weary Ross Barkley. Perhaps he believed England could hold on. Perhaps there was merit in giving these players the chance to do it too.
After all, they had reached the World Cup semi-finals, but with the advantage of a fortuitous draw. When Croatia and Belgium, t wice, came calling, England came up short.
Now they have handed Spain their first competitive defeat at home for 15 years, scoring three times in the first half against a team rejuvenated under a new coach in Luis Enrique.
It was only a month ago Spain had obliterated Croatia 6-0 and, despite the 2-1 scoreline, outplayed England at Wembley too.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” said Raheem Sterling, who scored twice, along with another from Marcus Rashford. “It was a brilliant team performance.”
When the whistle blew after a breathless 98 minutes at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, the talk was of England’s most impressive victory since they beat Germany 5-1 in Munich in 2001.
a prolonged 27-game stretch of goalless action for the national squad, which lasted almost three years, with an early opener against Spain. He celebrated it with his second from close range before the break, which handed England a 3-0 lead at half-time.
addressing the media after Friday's goalless draw against Croatia, had admitted to feeling the pressure to deliver. Sterling sure responded in an emphatic fashion on Monday.
for the senior England side came against Lithuania in March, 2015 and in October the same year he got his second against Estonia. England manager
There was the shoot-out triumph against Colombia and the summer stroll over Sweden to go within a game of the World Cup final. They have seen off Germany, France and Brazil as well in friendlies.
But in terms of a competitive match, you have to go back 16 years to Sapporo, and David Beckham’s penalty against Argentina, for England’s last win Spain manager
a torrid opening, England shred Spain’s defence to pieces and their perseverance in the first half resulted in those three goals.
of their frontline to function ruthlessly also evaporated soon with their clinical display. Three Lions scored three goals from their five attempts.
but his impact on the game was huge. Kane did the spade work for two of the goals that put England three goals up at the break. When England had to dig deep in the second half, under relentless pressure, Kane chipped in defensively as well to quell the Spanish charge. against a World Cup winner.
This was not a World Cup, nor even a European Championship, and Southgate will not pretend the surprisingly compelling Nations League is as competitive as either.
But Spain were desperate to win. When Pickford scrambled the ball off Rodrigo, Spain’s players harangued the referee for a penalty. When Sergio Ramos
of what England manager Gareth Southgate is trying to achieve with this group. This has been the youngest side England have fielded in 59 years, and their execution was rewarded in that opening period.
the price for being complacent given their opponents’ recent splutters. But they didn't account for the Three Lions’ efficiency in front of goal. Kane & Co time and again sliced at pace through the Spanish defence marshalled by captain Sergio Ramos. headed home in the 98th minute, they sprinted back to the centre circle, in the hope of one final attack. England held on, another injection of belief gained for a team that had an average age of just over 23, their youngest since the turn of the century.
“With a lot of young players, it’s important they have good experiences, that they enjoy playing for England and feel the way we want to play,” Southgate said. “They should be able to progress from this, it’s up to us now.”
They could now even win Group 4 if they beat Croatia at home next month but Southgate will know there is work to be done.
England’s sense of panic in the second half in Seville was reminiscent of their frenzied play under pressure against Croatia in Russia. Pickford, the instigator of two goals scored, could then have caused two conceded, fumbling for the corner that Alcacer turned in and then overplaying against Rodrigo.
“He’s got the technical ability to find passes into midfield, although maybe not to do a Cruyff turn in his own box,” Southgate said with a smile. “It’s something to work on.”