England record memorable victory over Spain after Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling strike
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England ran riot by scoring three first-half goals to stun Spain and earn a 3-2 away win in the Nations League on Monday as they moved back into contention in League A Group 4 with their first victory on Spanish soil for 31 years.
Raheem Sterling gave England the lead against the run of play in the 16th minute by finishing off a swift counter-attack and Marcus Rashford fired into the top corner for the second on the half-hour after a superb pass from captain Harry Kane.
Sterling, who had not got an England goal for three years, struck again from another Kane assist to give Gareth Southgate's side a big halftime lead against Spain, who had scored 12 goals in their last three games and beat England 2-1 last month.
Spain hit back with a header by substitute Paco Alcacer just before the hour and were almost gifted another goal after an error from Jordan Pickford although the keeper managed to tackle Rodrigo Moreno, sparking fierce penalty appeals from the hosts.
Captain Sergio Ramos got a second for Spain with a diving header in the eighth minute of added time with the last action of the match, leaving his side tasting their first defeat over 90 minutes since they were beaten 2-0 by Italy in Euro 2016.
What time does it start?
Spain vs England kicks off at 7:45pm (BST)
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Main Event channel from 7pm. Highlights will be shown on the Sky Sports Football channel at midnight.
It’s a big game for…
Jordan Henderson – The latest crisis to form a cloud over the England football team concerns the lack of a quality passers, and with opposite numbers such as Isco and Saul so fluid on the ball that criticism has only intensified. However, while the likes of James Maddison have been called up to attempt to address that problem, it will be up to the more experienced heads, such as Liverpool’s Henderson, to guide the younger stars as England look to rebuild their midfield.
Remember when…
England’s last visit to Spain will not serve as any inspiration to Gareth Southgate, but nonetheless it took two special strikes from current Villarreal players to defeat the Three Lions. Mario Gaspar acrobatically diverted a lofted Sergio Busquets pass into the top corner, before Santi Cazorla, an Arsenal player at the time, deceived Joe Hart to beat him at his near post and secure victory in Alicante. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Qkr3Sz8qk
Player to watch…
Paco Alcacer – The Spaniard ended his Barcelona exile by joining Borussia Dortmund on loan in the summer and the forward has not looked back since. His double against Wales took his tally to nine goals in five games in all competitions, and therefore England’s defence will have to be aware of the former Valencia forward.
Past three-meetings…
England 1 (Rashford) Spain 2 (Saul, Rodrigo), UEFA Nations League, September 2018
England 2 (Lallana pen, Vardy) Spain 2 (Aspas, Isco), International Friendly, November 2016
Spain 2 (Gaspar, Cazorla) England 0, International Friendly, November 2015
Form guide…
Spain: WDLWWW
England: WWLLLW
Odds…
Spain to win: 4/5
England to win: 17/5
Draw: 5/2
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Harry Latham-Coyle will be along shortly for all the team news and buildup to Spain vs England in the Nations League. In the meantime, here's Miguel Delaney on Harry Kane's international goal drought.
It's wet and wild in Seville where England and Spain are an hour away from kick-off at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
TEAM NEWS
The hosts make eight changes from Thursday's crushing friendly victory against Wales, with only David De Gea, Saul and captain Sergio Ramos retaining their shirts.
Luis Enrique opts for a completely revamped front-three of Iago Aspas, Rodrigo and Marco Asensio.
TEAM NEWS
Gareth Southgate is forced into two changes with Jordan Henderson and John Stones suspended and has otherwise largely kept faith in those who started in Croatia on Friday, despite their flat performance in Rijeka.
The only other change comes at right-back where Kieran Trippier returns in place of Kyle Walker. Joe Gomez and Harry Winks come in for the suspended duo, earning their fifth and second caps respectively.
The peculiar nature of that behind-closed-doors Croatia clash seemed to upset England's rhythm, but they face a completely different test tonight.
The Estadio Benito Villamarin hosts its first international fixture since 1995, and a vocal and lively crowd is expected in Seville. The home ground of Real Betis, the stadium underwent significant expansion in 2016 to bring its capacity to over 60,000.
Even a simple training session at the ground brought out fans in force, but it is not the Spanish fans making the headlines ahead of the game...
Yes, the travelling English support have got themselves in bother again...
But what of the hosts? Julen Lopetegui's departure moments before the World Cup began really hamstrung their campaign at the tournament, and Spain crashed out to hosts Russia in the Round of 16.
Luis Enrique was the man tasked with rebuilding the team in the summer, and the early returns have been excellent. The former Barcelona coach has got his squad full of confidence, playing cohesive, efficient and entertaining football and winning games.
Miguel Delaney comments on the "nueva ilusion":
Just over 15 minutes until kick-off in Seville.
Can England produce a shock? They'll have to produce far more than they did in Rijeka...
This is the youngest England side to play a competitive fixture since 1959, and yet this is England's best available team. That could be perceived as testament to the quality of young talent emerging in recent years, or conversely showing the lack of hardened, experienced internationals that a squad often needs.
Gareth Southgate will hope his young charges go well tonight, though it sounds like he sees the result as second to the performance with his England team continually growing and developing.
The players are in the tunnel.
Szymon Marciniak of Poland is tonight's referee.
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