Spain Come From Behind to Beat England 3-2 in Nations League Opener

Spain came from behind to beat England 3-2 at Wembley, extending a record unbeaten run to 39 matches and opening their Nations League campaign with a win over the side they beat in the Euro 2024 final.

Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in Berlin two years ago, struck again in the 74th minute.

Four Minutes That Changed the Match

Spain were ahead inside two minutes. Marc Guehi lost track of Lamine Yamal, who finished past Trafford to silence the stadium.

England's response arrived in a burst before half-time. Anthony Gordon equalised in the 36th minute and Harry Kane put the hosts in front four minutes later, meaning Spain had conceded more goals in that spell than in their eight World Cup matches combined.

The advantage did not last. Alex Baena came off the bench to level in the 60th minute, then supplied the through ball from which Oyarzabal scored the winner.

England had chances to change the outcome. Kane slipped as he ran up to take a penalty and struck it against the bar, one of several moments Thomas Tuchel will reflect on given his stated aim of winning this competition.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his side had controlled the match and believed the world champions still have room to improve.

The result leaves England third in Group A3 after Croatia won 2-1 away to Czechia on the same evening.

New Coaches, Mixed Starts

The opening round doubled as a first competitive test for several high-profile appointments.

Jurgen Klopp began his tenure as Germany coach with a 1-1 draw away to Xavi Hernandez's Netherlands. Felix Nmecha put Germany ahead in the 32nd minute before Cody Gakpo equalised in the second minute of stoppage time.

Klopp's second match went less well. Germany lost 1-0 at home to Greece on Sunday, a result that leaves them without a win from two.

Zinedine Zidane's France made a winning start, beating Turkey 1-0 in Izmit through a Kylian Mbappe goal just before the hour.

Roberto Mancini's second spell in charge of Italy opened with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium. Mika Godts scored after 20 minutes and Dodi Lukebakio added a second in the 69th.

Elsewhere in League A, Norway beat Denmark 3-2, Portugal edged Wales 1-0 and Greece won 2-1 in Serbia.

England's remaining fixtures in the window bring a trip to Czechia in Prague on Tuesday, followed by Croatia in Rijeka on 3 October and Czechia again at Wembley on 6 October. Tuchel has spoken about winning the competition, an aim that now requires results against sides who have already taken points off them.

Spain, meanwhile, continue a run that has taken in a European Championship and a World Cup. Their unbeaten sequence of 39 matches is a record, and de la Fuente's suggestion that there is improvement still to come will not encourage the rest of League A.

The international window runs until 6 October, with the Premier League returning the following weekend.