England take a step forward but Spain show the level required to be world champions

Spain opened their Nations League campaign with a statement victory at Wembley. Luis de la Fuente's side beat England 3-2 in a wild, end-to-end match that produced five goals and left the visitors with plenty of reasons to feel good. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal secured the win against an England team that fought back from behind but paid a heavy price for defensive struggles.

• Spain won 3-2 at Wembley thanks to a comeback led by substitutes Baena and Oyarzabal.
• England produced their best attacking spell since the World Cup but it was not enough against the champions.
• Lamine Yamal put Spain ahead after just two minutes following a Marc Guehi mistake.
• Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have made it 3-1 and kept Spain alive in the contest.
• Luis de la Fuente's substitutions raised the team's technical level in the second half.

Spain win at Wembley and confirm their champions' pedigree

The match at the London stadium carried echoes of a World Cup final that could have been. Spain, the world champions, made a statement against an England side still searching for its identity under Thomas Tuchel. Even though this was a Nations League game, the pattern felt very similar to recent major tournaments: La Roja stuck to their idea, controlled possession when it mattered and struck at exactly the right moments.

The first half was a constant exchange of blows. England refused to hide and hit back after Yamal's early opener with two goals that made Wembley believe. The home side's intensity, with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon heavily involved, caused real problems for the Spanish defence for long stretches. But the world champions never lost their composure.

Yamal strikes early and forces England to respond

The evening could hardly have started worse for the hosts. Barely two minutes had been played when Marc Guehi made a costly mistake and Lamine Yamal made no mistake. The Barcelona winger again showed his instinct in the penalty area to make it 1-0 before England had even settled on the pitch.

Far from collapsing, England responded immediately and showed more bite than they had for much of the World Cup. The connection between Bellingham and Gordon constantly troubled the Spanish back line. It was a surging run from the Real Madrid midfielder that led to the equaliser, with a flowing move that Gordon finished well. Barcelona and Madrid, but this time in England colours.

Kane misses the penalty that could have rewritten the night

England completed the turnaround after sustained pressure forced an error from Marc Cucurella, with the second goal credited to Harry Kane. Soon after, the striker had the chance to stretch the lead from the spot, but he slipped and sent his penalty off target.

That miss changed the air of the contest. At 3-1, the situation would have looked very different and the cushion may well have been enough to manage the rest of the game. Instead, Spain kept believing and were rewarded for their persistence. The champions sensed the shift in momentum and began to dictate the tempo with more patience and precision.

Baena and Oyarzabal, the bench strikes that settled the match

Luis de la Fuente made his substitutions count. Alex Baena came on to provide the composure and final pass that define Spanish football, and he made his mark almost immediately. His goal was a masterclass in precision, guiding the ball into the corner as though he were simply passing into the net. It made the score 2-2 and confirmed Spain were not leaving Wembley without a fight for the win.

Mikel Oyarzabal was the other key figure. The forward completed a wonderful team move with a delicate lob over James Trafford. His strike finished off a sequence full of clean angles and precise touches, pure technical excellence from a side that never stops trusting its style. At 3-2, Spain regained control and demonstrated why they have dominated the international stage for so long.

England's makeshift defence remains Tuchel's biggest concern

Beyond the result, the match left worrying signs for Thomas Tuchel at the back. England's defence looked uncertain for long spells and the experiment with Jarrel Quansah at right-back did not work. The player was repeatedly exposed down his side, opening up gaps that Spain exploited with patience.

The obvious question is why Trent Alexander-Arnold was not used there, especially given some of the positions Quansah took up. The debate over defensive balance is nothing new, but against opposition of Spain's quality the problems become far more visible. Ferran Torres also had several clear chances to extend the lead before the closing stages.

A defeat without boos and the mirror that is Spain

Despite the result, Wembley did not send the team off with jeers. The home crowd recognised the effort of a side that, at least for long periods, offered a much more attractive version than during much of the World Cup. The spell either side of half-time was probably England's best attacking football in a long time, with two goals that rattled the world champions.

Even so, the night ended with a clear lesson: competing against Spain is not enough. De la Fuente's team maintain an unshakable belief in their way of playing and always seem to find answers even when the match turns against them. England showed spirit, energy and character, but they lack that cohesive idea to sustain the level across the full ninety minutes.

The Nations League has barely begun, but the Wembley opener delivered a clear message. Spain remain a step above the rest, and reaching their level is exactly the challenge facing Tuchel and his players if they want to fight for trophies. It is a long road, but nights like this serve as a reminder of the true standard set by the world champions.