ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Roy Keane criticises Gordon’s claim England equals Spain after Nations League win.
- England’s performance still seen as below Spain’s standard despite 3-2 victory.
- Gordon’s view sparks debate over national team progress and future prospects.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Roy Keane is right to call out the fantasy. England are not on Spain’s level, and Anthony Gordon’s claim after the 3-2 Nations League loss ignores what the match actually showed. Spain did not just win; they imposed their tempo, shifted gears at will, and punished England’s transitions with clinical precision. Gordon’s confidence mistakes resilience for parity.
The gap is not just in talent but in control. Spain’s midfield rotated possession, dictated pressure, and exploited the spaces England left when pushing forward. Tuchel’s side had moments — Bellingham’s drive, Kane’s finish — but they reacted rather than initiated. Against a team that cycles through phases like Spain, that hesitation is fatal. England’s energy cannot compensate for a lack of structural coherence.
The real test comes in March when England face Spain again. If Tuchel cannot adjust the midfield shape to retain possession higher up the pitch, the same pattern will repeat. Watch for whether he trusts a double pivot to shield the back three or continues to push full-backs high without adequate cover. That adjustment will reveal if England have closed the gap or merely papered over it.
WHY IT MATTERS
Keane’s challenge highlights ongoing tension between England’s perceived progress and the benchmark set by Spain, influencing public perception and pressure on coaching decisions ahead of future international fixtures.
TACTICAL FIT
The disagreement underscores need for England to refine tactical approach to match Spain’s high-press style, prompting coaching staff to reassess formations and player roles and defensive organization.
THE DEBATE
Is England truly catching up to Spain’s footballing standard?
World Cup winners Spain pounced on basic errors from England's Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly for their first two goals, while Thomas Tuchel's side failed to capitalise on their dominance with Harry Kane's missed penalty proving to be a turning point at Wembley
Sunday 27 September 2026 00:21, UK
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'That’s being generous!' – England's player ratings vs Spain
Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett and Peter Smith rate the England players' performances in the game against Spain.
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Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett and Pete Smith rate the England players' performances in the game against Spain.
Roy Keane disagreed with Anthony Gordon's assessment that England are at the same level as Spain after the World Cup winners came from behind to beat Thomas Tuchel's side 3-2 in their Nations League opener.
Spain extend their unbeaten run to 39 games with the win at Wembley, but the game could have had a very different outcome had Harry Kane not missed a second-half penalty after he headed England 2-1 in front before the break.
The momentum shifted in Spain's favour after Kane's slip, with Alex Baena equalising off the bench before setting up the winner, scored by fellow substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, who broke England hearts in the Euro 2024 final.
Image:England's Harry Kane slips and fires his penalty against the bar in the match with Spain
- Match report: England 2-3 Spain |****As it happened * Teams | Stats | Watch FREE PL highlights * England latest news blog | Nations League scores & news | Tables
Gordon, who scored England's equaliser from a terrific counter-attacking move, felt the performance was enough to win them the game and showed that they are a top team.
"I don't think there is a gap [to Spain] I feel like we're right there," Gordon told ITV Sport. "We can win that game so easily. If the penalty goes in we can go on and win the game. In hindsight it's always easy to say that. But I felt good in the game.
"I don't think there is a gap and I think if we played them in the final I would've felt confident. Being confident doesn't always translate into a win, but I think you've seen here tonight that we're a top team."
Responding to the England forward, Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane said on ITV Sport: "I disagree with Gordon, I think there is a gap. I think there is, obviously [Spain are] world champions, European champions."
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Tuchel: We thought we had Spain at half-time
Image:Anthony Gordon celebrates his equaliser for England against Spain at Wembley
England scored two goals in the space of four first-half minutes just before half-time - more goals than Spain conceded in the entire World Cup - but failed to capitalise on their dominance after the restart with Kane's spurned penalty proving to be the turning point.
Spain, meanwhile, were ruthless with Lamine Yamal pouncing on Marc Guehi's error to open the scoring after two minutes and Baena's second-half equaliser coming directly after a misplaced pass from Nico O'Reilly.
"We did everything today to beat Spain," Tuchel said after the game. "Details matter on this level. Clear-cut mistakes were too high on our side unfortunately. In the last 20 metres they were more clinical and composed to convert our ball losses into clear-cut chances.
"Still we had them and we had our chance to beat them."
He added: "We wanted desperately to be the team to beat them. We thought we had them at half-time. That was the way the team showed up after half-time.
"It happens too often today and we get punished on the highest level. The execution and composure in the final 20 metres was on the highest level from our opponents."
Spain boss: We had the game under control
Image:Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring against England
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente felt his side were in charge of the game save for the final stages of the first half when England came from behind to lead at the break.
"The game was under control most of the time, except for six to seven minutes, when England dominated us," he said.
"We got disconnected. Against a rival like England, a superpower, this can happen. I think we had the game under control."
Analysis: 'Missed penalty and a missed opportunity for England'
Image:Harry Kane reacts to missing a penalty against Spain in the Nations League
Sky Sports News senior correspondent Rob Dorsett at Wembley Stadium:
"One captain's slip, one memorable scalp that slipped away.
"A missed penalty and a missed opportunity for England - though it's hard to argue that Spain weren't the far superior side over 90 minutes.
"The world champions could have been out of sight within 30 minutes, after a dominant display of their prowess. And a couple of self-destructive England passes.
"The fact that Spain were only a goal ahead, gave England hope, and it was a stunning 10-minute spell that saw England grab the lead.
"Firstly, a brilliant goal from their best player on the night, Anthony Gordon, and then from captain Kane with a header.
"But the home side started the second half really well, and when Kane missed from the spot to give England a two-goal lead, Spain sensed blood. Their response with strikes from Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal was decisive and deserved.
"A defeat with some merit then, for Tuchel's England. But there still seems to be a gulf in class."
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