England and Spain played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Wembley last night, ending Gareth Southgate’s four game stint as caretaker. Judging by the performance alone, the former Boro boss will be disappointed not to be offered the job (if indeed he does actually wants it, is been hard to tell) when the FA do eventually get to round to filling position in the coming months.
Whilst Spain, reeling in the absence of such mainstays as Diego Costa, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos, started sluggishly, England impressed immediately with some fine authoritative passing in midfield – a welcome change to Southgate’s three previous matches in charge.
Indeed their pressure paid dividends just 9 minutes in when former Reds keeper clumsily brought down Jamie Vardy in the box after an effortlessly brilliant through ball by Adam Lallana.
The playmaker converted the penalty, however 20 minutes later would have his evening cut short through injury, a worrying sight for Jurgen Klopp given his superb form of late.
Spain began to show their pedigree in bursts as Sergio Busquets linked with his fellow midfielders brilliantly. For all their drive and attacking talent on display however, the visitors had no cutting edge up front. For the time being at least.
Jamie Vardy’s bullet header in the second half further cemented his 1st choice striker credentials. However, with England sitting pretty at 2-0, Spain’s approach play become more and more incisive.
Alas, a wonderful curling effort in the 89th minute via former Liverpool reject Iago Aspas put The Three Lion’s backline edge, all before their capitulation was complete when Real Madrid’s Isco took advantage of poor defending by Eric Dier to fire in between Tom Heaton’s legs and suckerpunch Southgate and his side.
Indeed the now primed candidate showed his frustration at the death with an uncharacteristic roar.
Whilst the result felt like a defeat for many given the two late goals, England had many positives to draw from (the free flowing attacking of Lingard, Sterling and Vardy particularly) given their technically superior opposition.
We’ve undeniably seen far worse in the past year.