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England snapped world champions Spain’s unbeaten run with a 3-2 victory in Madrid on Sunday to clinch the top spot in Nations League group A3, after a staggering 12-minute burst saw the Three Lions pile three goals on the world champions.
Goals from Harry Kane, Ezri Konsa and Ben White inflicted La Roja’s first loss in a competitive game since March 2024, a run of 969 days, after 43 matches without defeat.
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England’s Elliot Anderson was sent off in the second half as Spain fought back from three goals down with strikes from Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams, but Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup winners could not find the equaliser.
Both sides were already sure to progress, but as group winners England will be seeded for the quarter-finals in March.
“Brilliant performance. Well deserved win. Overall we were the better team,” a delighted Thomas Tuchel told ITV Sport post-match.
“Fantastic performance from start to finish.
“We brought everything to the table. We were brave. Spirit wise, energy wise and also football quality was highest level. We deserved it.
“Without the red card we were clear winners.”
Writing in The Telegraph, football scribe Sam Wallace deemed the win “one of their greatest victories”.
“England beat the world champions in Madrid, and for more than 30 minutes including injury time they did so with 10 men, Dan Burn heading the last ball out as per the tradition of a defensive rearguard action,” he wrote.
“This was the game that had it all.”
Among the heroes was goalkeeper James Trafford, who vindicated Tuchel’s call to start him over veteran Jordan Pickford with a series of brilliant saves.
The victory was England’s first against a FIFA number one-ranked nation away from home since the rankings were introduced in 1992.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal was fit to start for Spain at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium after missing their midweek win over the Czech Republic.
However the youngster did not see much of the ball in the first half as England came out strongly.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon produced a strong reaction save to deny Jude Bellingham, while Anthony Gordon had a dangerous shot blocked.
Ballon d’Or winner Kane, who beat Yamal to the award, sent an effort narrowly wide.
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi handed England the advantage when he clumsily felled Kane in the area on the stroke of half time.
The Bayern Munich hitman powered a perfect penalty past Simon, who dived the right way but to no avail.
De la Fuente tried to react at half-time with a triple change, including throwing on Barcelona duo Fermin Lopez and Pedri, but England quickly found more joy.
Konsa headed home the second from Declan Rice’s corner in the 53rd minute after the Arsenal defender was left unmarked by Spain’s defence.
Four minutes later England sliced open Spain’s defence with Kane and Bellingham combining to set up White for the third.
La Roja clawed their way back into the game when Elliot Anderson fouled Yamal in the area as the Spain striker ran in on goal.
The Manchester City midfielder was dismissed and Mikel Oyarzabal slotted home the penalty.
Spain found a second when Gordon gave the ball away and Yamal fed Nico Williams, whose shot hit the post and bounced in.
Williams curled over and Trafford denied Yamal and Marc Cucurella as Spain looked fruitlessly for the goal they needed to preserve their unbeaten record.
“We knew we could beat them. We knew we were going to beat them today,” a jubliant Rice told ITV Sport post-match.
“Our first 10 minutes was probably the best we’ve played in a 10-minute spell. Pressure, pressure, pressure, we could have had two or three (goals).
“The red card changes the course of the game as it could have been a couple more (goals) if I’m being honest.
“Ten men for half an hour. To win it 3-2 against that team, unbeaten in 43, is a massive thing.”
