Irish Sunday Mirror

RASHIA IS A WORLD AWAY New deal for Howe

Spain bring Three Lions back down to earth after summer heroics

- By SIMON MULLOCK at Wembley @Mullocksmi­rror BY NEIL MOXLEY

If only England had made the most of their chances...

ENGLAND’S brave new world was given a reality check at Wembley.

The hype and excitement generated during a long, hot summer in which the country fell back in love with the national team was replaced by an ice-cold wake-up blast.

More than 81,000 turned up for England’s first Nations League tie.

But after Marcus Rashford’s early strike had given the fans hope that Gareth Southgate can build on England’s first appearance in a World Cup semi-final for 28 years, that optimism was punctured by goals from Saul Niguez and Rodrigo.

If it was a chastening evening for England, it was a painful one for Luke Shaw. The Manchester United left-back, recalled after an impressive start to the season, set up Rashford’s 11th-minute opener before making a mistake in the build-up to Niguez’s quickfire riposte.

And two minutes into the second half, Shaw was knocked out cold by a sickening collision with Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal.

It took six worrying minutes of treatment before England’s medical staff felt it safe enough to take him off on a stretcher.

New Spain boss Luis Enrique is supposed to be rebuilding after a ruinous summer in Russia and the retirement of Andreas Iniesta, Gerard Pique and David Silva.

But both Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets have won the World Cup and European Championsh­ip.

Others, like Isco, Nacho Carvajal, Thiago, Niguez and David De Gea, are serial winners at club level. Southgate’s most decorated players last night? Premier League winners Harry Maguire and John Stones. How it showed.

While the slick-passing Spaniards dominated possession, an England team that included debutant Joe Gomez and the returning Shaw had to decide carefully when to attack.

If they had made the most of what they did create they could have taken a share of the spoils. England took the lead with a goal that would have made even Pep Guardiola purr.

Stones, Gomez and Kieran Trippier worked their way out of a tight spot close to their corner flag.

And after Jordan Henderson had burst through Niguez’s tackle, Kane switched play with a raking pass that

EDDIE HOWE is set for a big pay rise at Bournemout­h.

The 40-year-old is poised to re-negotiate a contract with the south coast club that will see him extend his successful Cherries reign.

It is understood that Howe’s £750,000 salary was given a significan­t uplift following promotion to the Premier League — and it should now rocket above £3million, with bonuses adding to the pot.

Howe, who has been in charge at the Vitality Stadium for six years during his second spell at the club, was tied down following a deal that he signed in 2015.

 ??  ?? TAKING THE WEMBLEY AIR Spain’s Rodrigo for joy leaps after scoring to make it 2-1 for Spain against England last night
TAKING THE WEMBLEY AIR Spain’s Rodrigo for joy leaps after scoring to make it 2-1 for Spain against England last night

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