Spain 2-3 England: Player ratings

England went 3-0 up and then survived a late onslaught with 10 men to beat world champions Spain 3-2 in Madrid on Sunday night, as reported by BBC Sport. The result ended Spain’s 43-match unbeaten run and handed England top spot in Nations League Group A3.

Spain

• Unai Simon – 7: Made sharp early saves to deny Jude Bellingham, but had no chance with any of the three goals.
• Marc Pubill – 6: Bright against Anthony Gordon before injury forced him off after about 20 minutes.
• Pau Cubarsi – 5: Fouled Harry Kane to give away the penalty for England’s opener. Replaced at half-time.
• Aymeric Laporte – 6: Struggled as Spain conceded three in quick succession, but was denied a late equaliser by a stunning Trafford save.
• Marc Cucurella – 6: Kept Morgan Rogers fairly quiet and kept pushing forward. Booked.
• Martin Zubimendi – 6: Kept possession ticking over but couldn’t cope with England’s press. Went off injured.
• Fabian Ruiz – 5: Found little space in midfield and was hooked at the break.
• Mikel Merino – 5: A quiet, ineffective first half before he was replaced at half-time.
• Lamine Yamal – 8: Spain’s biggest threat by far. Won the penalty that brought Elliot Anderson’s red card and set up Nico Williams’ goal. Booked for dissent.
• Alex Baena – 7: Played the full 90 minutes, made dangerous runs and created chances, but was booked for simulation.
• Mikel Oyarzabal – 7: Isolated for long spells, but scored the penalty calmly to spark the comeback.

Substitutes

• Pedro Porro (on 20) – 6: Got forward often but wasted good chances.
• Dean Huijsen (on 46) – 6: Struggled with Kane at first but settled after the red card.
• Pedri (on 46) – 8: Changed the tempo and rarely wasted a pass.
• Fermin Lopez (on 46) – 7: Linked up well with Yamal and tested Trafford repeatedly.
• Nico Williams (on 72) – 8: Scored within minutes of coming on and was a constant threat.
• Luis de la Fuente (manager) – 5: His side were overrun early on. The half-time changes sparked a fightback, but it came too late.

England

• James Trafford – 9: Had little to do until the late siege, then made crucial saves, including a stoppage-time stop to deny Laporte.
• Ben White – 9: Marked his first England start since March 2022 with the winning goal and a vital late block on Williams.
• Ezri Konsa – 8: Headed in the second goal and defended strongly on his return from injury.
• Jarell Quansah – 5: His costly error led to the penalty and Anderson’s red card.
• Lewis Hall – 8: Handled Yamal well and linked nicely with Gordon in attack.
• Elliot Anderson – 5: Excellent for over an hour and helped create the penalty, but his red card changed the game.
• Declan Rice – 8: Drove England forward and delivered the corner for Konsa’s goal, despite an early booking.
• Jude Bellingham – 9: Dominated in his adopted city, oozed quality and set up White’s goal.
• Morgan Rogers – 7: A disciplined display, with vital pressing and defensive work after the red card.
• Anthony Gordon – 6: A nuisance all night, but he lost the ball in the build-up to Spain’s second goal.
• Harry Kane – 7: Won and scored the penalty for his 93rd England goal before being sacrificed after the red card.

Substitutes

• Myles Lewis-Skelly (on 78) – 6: Added energy in midfield.
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Djed Spence, Dan Burn: Not on long enough to be rated.