Sometimes it is not the performance but the result that is important, at other times it is the performance and not the result that is important, and occasionally the result and the performance are important together.  This match certainly falls into that latter category and England can celebrate cleverly finding a way to beat the current best team in the world.  Frank Lampard will tell his grandchildren of the day when he captained England, and scored a 25 yarder into the top corner to give England victory over the reigning World and European Champions.  Almost all of that statement will be absolutely true!

But this was a strange game, and all of you who read this will have experienced watching your team produce a backs to the wall performance as the opposing team dominates and continually pins them back into their own half for long periods.  Usually you would probably be watching your team in an away match in these circumstances, but this was England, playing at home, at Wembley, under the cosh from start to finish and yet winning by converting one of only two chances that came their way.  Who said possession football is the way to go?

It was obvious from the start that manager Fabio Capello had been working on a plan to counteract the possession football that Spain have found so successful for them over the past few years.  In the first half England set themselves up with two banks of four and with Scott Parker doing all the hard work in front of the back four, whilst Darren Bent ploughed a lone furrow up front.  The system would invite Spain to play through the middle and hopefully defenders would be able to mop upery attack as it came at them.  The plan worked perfectly.  In this case it certainly helped that Capello was an Italian, because this was a typical Italian style performance, made famous over the years in so many Italian team's victories in various competitions.  Spain held the ball and passed it around in their usual style, but when they met the England defensive barrier, they lacked the guile and creativity to break through.

England for their part defended superbly and Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka had magnificent games at the heart of the home defence.  Their positional play and levels of concentration were exemplary, and it also inspired those around them, as everyone worked their socks off to carry out Capello's plan to the letter.

Spain did create chances through the game, a side of their talent always will, but to be honest Joe Hart had as easy a first half as he has had for ages.  In fact the first half was largely boring to watch for an English fan as there was very little by way of goalmouth action.  I must be in the minority I know, but watching Spain play their brand of football bores me to death, it is like watching Arsenal, why make one pass when 132 would do!  There was little in the first half to enthuse over as the game was dominated by pretty football being stifled by terrific and resolute defending.

It was a goal four minutes after the restart that livened up the game and that was mainly because the goal was scored, surprisingly, by England.  They had not created a chance worthy of the name in the first 45 minutes but here was a free kick out on the left wing that gave them the opportunity to put the Spanish defence under pressure for the first time.  The lively James Milner took the kick and flighted a beautiful, inswinging centre into the middle where Darren Bent, so often starved of the ball in that first half, rose to head the ball down and goalwards.  Substitute goalkeeper Pepe Reina dived and the ball struck the post before rebounding across goal.  And there was England's captain, on hand to nod in the easiest of his 23 England goals from all of one yard out!  (Sorry to his grandkids for ruining Frank's story).  The distance was reminiscent of Nobby Stiles' one International goal scored against West Germany back in 1966, although he had to kick that one in.

So, the phrase 'cat amongst pigeons' certainly came to mind at that point and Spain almost produced an immediate response when Sergio Busquets sent a ball through the middle, which David Villa anticipated superbly.  Hart came out and managed to force Villa wide, in fact wide enough as it turned out, as Villa went round the keeper but couldn't quite hit the target with his shot.

From then on Spain upped the pace, but England matched them, and with Parker making some brilliant interceptions, tackles and passes, and being a proverbial pain to the Spaniards, and Lescott, Jagielka and the ever-reliable Ashley Cole defending magnificently, Hart still had a relatively quiet time.  Spain actually had around 23 goal attempts during the game but only two were on target and Hart easily saved both of those.  However, substitute Fabregas will be kicking himself for not scoring at least one goal in that last half hour.  One pass sent him clean through to the right of goal and a cross shot to the far corner would probably have succeeded, but thankfully for England his old Arsenal brain kicked in and he decided to try one more pass, and man-of-the-match Parker touched the ball away from the attacker as the pass came square.

Fabregas was also guilty of the miss of the match when right at the death he finally escaped the clutches of England's vice-like defence to meet a perfect Villa cross, but only succeeded in scuffing his shot wide of the goal, much to the delight and relief of the home fans.

The best of Spain's efforts had earlier fallen to Villa after Glen Johnson's weak header had given the Barcelona player the chance to volley goalwards.  For once Hart was stretched but the ball hit the outside of the post and was cleared.

England's defenders had deserved that slice of luck and the discipline they had shown throughout was absolutely superb.  It must have pleased the manager no end and Capello can also be pleased with the contribution of Phil Jones and substitute Jack Rodwell as the young brigade continue to shine for England.  A win against the World Champions, and all this without Rooney, Terry, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Young etc etc.  So much for Spain, blimey it was our reserve team that beat them!!

Seriously though, a splendid win, not one to get carried away with, but one to savour nonetheless.