Match Summary

Spain Team

England Team

With Spain at the moment probably the best International side in Europe, this match was going to prove a stiff task for the new hope being showered on the England team.  In the end it proved a wake-up call to all those who think England can win the World Cup.  They still could, but in Spain they were vastly inferior to a class outfit.

In the early stages England looked disciplined and organised, but there were few signs of an attacking threat.  Fabio Capello decided to pair up Gabriel Agbonlahor with his Aston Villa teammate Emile Heskey, and Agbonlahor had a good early chance and almost beat Iker Casillas in the Spanish goal.  Shaun Wright-Phillips made a pacey dribble that almost unlocked the defence, but after that England's attacks petered out.  The home midfield began to turn on the style with crisp, clever passing and ball possession was the order of the day.  Xavi Hernandes ran the show in midfield, and he was supported by two other class performers, in Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso.  Barcelona's Xavi was outstanding throughout and his midfield play was a fine example of the complete modern day midfield player.  By half-time England were being overrun by the sheer brilliance of the Spanish midfield players.  Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry were chasing shadows for much of the latter part of the first half, especially after Spain took the lead.

The opening goal came on 36 minutes and it stemmed from a precision pass from Alonso into the heart of the England defence.  The ball found David Villa and although Phil Jagielka, in for Rio Ferdinand who was ill, managed to get a foot to the ball it then bounced kindly back into the path of the Spaniard and in a flash Villa was round Jagielka and John Terry before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond David James.  It was a goal Spain deserved, as their approach play was a delight at times.

At half-time Capello had a re-think and made a number of changes.  He brought on David Beckham for his 108^th cap, thus equalling Bobby Moore's outfield record appearance total, and then he also gave run outs to Robert Green, in goal, Matthew Upson, Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch.  None of the changes had any immediate impact as Xavi continued to dictate all the proceedings.  Some of the passing and movement of the Spanish players was exceptional and even a full strength England side would have struggled to cope.  To their credit England did keep plugging away but they were being outclassed, and their fans knew it.  The only thing missing for the home supporters was another goal or two.

In the end, on 82 minutes, Spain did manage a second goal and it was that man Xavi who laid it on.  His free-kick was headed home by Fernando Llorente and that put a more realistic look to the scoreline.  England's only real chances of the second-half were an effort by Lampard and another by debutant Carlton Cole, which was cleared off the line by Marchena.  It would have been a nice way for Cole to celebrate his first cap, but alas it wasn't to be.

Spain played superbly on the night and passed their way to victory.  This was their 29^th game unbeaten and it will take a very good side to dent that record.  England, meanwhile, must go back to the drawing board and think again.  Luckily there is still plenty of time to improve.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
SkySports.com
RFEF.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
Marcel Hoefsmit - friend and contributor
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CG