England seek Czechia response after Spain Nations League defeat
England will attempt to respond quickly from their 3-2 Wembley defeat to Spain when they visit Czechia in the Nations League on Tuesday, September 29. Thomas Tuchel’s side have four matches in the current international window and need a first points return after letting a half-time lead slip against the world and European champions.
Spain overturn England lead at Wembley
The hosts made a disastrous start as Lamine Yamal scored inside two minutes, but England reacted with an aggressive spell that had Spain under sustained pressure.
- Anthony Gordon finished a fast break to bring England level.
- Harry Kane headed England ahead four minutes later.
- Kane then missed the chance to put England two goals clear when his penalty struck the crossbar.
- Alex Baena equalised for Spain before Mikel Oyarzabal completed the visitors’ comeback.
England had led 2-1 at the interval and controlled lengthy parts of the first half, but Spain made their reprieve count after Kane’s penalty miss. The result left Tuchel’s young squad empty-handed despite a display that showed they could match one of international football’s leading teams.
Kane demands a complete performance
The Bayern Munich striker said England’s level around the break was the standard they must reproduce more often, but accepted that the side again failed to maintain it across the full match.
Kane said England had reached strong levels during the World Cup but had not consistently delivered for 90 minutes, adding that the period in which they seized control against Spain was among their best displays for a long time.
He insisted the narrow defeat did not expose a major gap between the teams. England went “toe-to-toe” with the reigning world and European champions, Kane said, and believed the outcome could have been different on another night.
What happens next
Tuchel’s immediate task is to preserve the attacking threat England showed after Yamal’s opener while cutting out the moments that allowed Spain to recover.
- England travel to Czechia on Tuesday, September 29.
- The match is their next Nations League fixture.
- With three further games still to play in the window after Wembley, England have an early opportunity to turn an encouraging performance into points.
