England 2–3 Spain: Wembley Collapse, Kane's Missed Penalty, Czechia Next

The scar has company. England led the world champions 2–1 at Wembley, missed the penalty that would have made it three, and lost 3–2 to two second-half goals built on English errors. It was thrilling, chaotic, and — in the manager’s own word — decided by “big mistakes”. The full report: the five goals, the lineups, the numbers that sting, the voices, and the table that now demands a win in Prague on Tuesday.

From the press box — Elena Marsh: report, lineups, stats and quotes via BBC Sport live/report (Sept 26–27); fixtures via ESPN/ITV; group table via Sky/BBC. Score reported, never invented. No odds, no tips, ever. Companion: matchday guide.

The five goals

2’ — Yamal 0–1 (Guehi error). The worst start possible, in Tuchel’s own phrase. Guehi turned into trouble, straight into Lamine Yamal, who beat James Trafford with ease. Two minutes gone, England behind — and it could have been worse: Torres had a goal ruled out for offside, forced a fine Trafford save, then rolled one wide clean through.

36’ — Gordon 1–1 (Bellingham assist). The counter-attack England talked about all week. Bellingham played Gordon through; the Barcelona winger kept calm, pace doing the rest, cool finish past Unai Simón.

40’ — Kane 2–1 (O’Reilly assist, off Cucurella). O’Reilly’s cross, Kane’s header deflected in off Marc Cucurella. Wembley erupted — England ahead against the run of the early play, the turnaround complete in four minutes.

55’ — Kane penalty, off the bar. Bellingham brought down by Rodri, VAR intervenes, spot-kick. Kane slipped taking it, touched the ball twice, hit the bar. At 2–1, the chance to go 3–1 and kill the game — gone.

60’ — Baena 2–2 (Olmo assist). O’Reilly lost possession; substitute Álex Baena (on at 55’ with Oyarzabal) beat Trafford low from the edge. Another English error, another punishment.

74’ — Oyarzabal 2–3 (Baena assist). A slick move, a delicate dink over Trafford — the Euro 2024 final winner scoring the Wembley winner. Spain controlled the last quarter; a late rally couldn’t find the point. FT 2–3, attendance 84,525.

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The lineups: Tuchel’s gambles

England (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Lewis-Skelly (Garner 70’); Saka (Gibbs-White 83’), Bellingham, Gordon (Rogers 70’); Kane (c, Calvert-Lewin 83’). The talking points: Trafford over Pickford — and Tuchel confirmed the rotation (another game for Trafford, then Pickford takes the other two); Quansah at right-back, a position he’d never played, learning on the job against the world’s best; Lewis-Skelly’s first England start in central midfield alongside Anderson; TAA unused on the bench. Yellows for O’Reilly (67’), Guehi (69’, Branthwaite on 89’) and Bellingham (81’).

Spain (4-2-3-1): Simón; Pubill, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz (Pedri 70’), Rodri (c); Yamal, Olmo (Merino 82’), N. Williams (Baena 55’); Torres (Oyarzabal 55’). De la Fuente’s double 55th-minute change — Baena and Oyarzabal for Williams and Torres — won the game: one goal, one assist, one winner between the substitutes. Spain’s subs “kicked on and elevated that game”, as Matt Upson noted; England’s didn’t. Possession 47.2–52.8, shots 13–15, on target 5–5. Fine margins, familiar outcome.

The numbers that sting

Spain are 39 games unbeaten. England have now conceded 3+ in consecutive matches for the first time since June 1995 (3–3 Sweden, 1–3 Brazil). Thirteen conceded in the last six — almost double the seven shipped in Tuchel’s first seventeen. And the mentality stat: first defeat after leading at half-time since June 2019 (Netherlands); they’d won 41 of the previous 42 when ahead at the break. BBC users voted Gordon and Bellingham joint top (7.55); Guehi bottom (4.19). The pattern of the autumn in one line: England’s best spells match anyone — over 90 minutes, the errors decide.

The voices

Tuchel (ITV): “Terrible start, the worst start possible… After 10–12 minutes, I think we were the better team… We couldn’t convert the penalty — I think then maybe Spain would have believed that their long run of unbeaten games ends here. Another big, big mistake for 2–2… Spells of the game were very good, but the result doesn’t prove it today.”

Kane (ITV): “We had a couple of good moments… that period was as good as we’ve played in a long, long time… On another day for sure we’d have won that game. We have to dust ourselves down and go again in a few days.” (On City charges talk: put aside with England.)

Gordon (BBC/ITV): “The penalty is a massive moment… I think all of their goals came from us really… We just lost to the best in the world. The gap is not big in my mind… We just need to not make mistakes at the highest level.” Roy Keane’s verdict: “Oyarzabal was never going to miss… that is sexy football.”

The table and Tuesday

Group A3: Spain 3, Croatia 3 (2–1 in Czechia), England 0, Czechia 0. Croatia’s win in Prague means Tuesday is already close to must-not-lose: Czechia vs England, Fortuna Arena, Tuesday Sept 29 (ITV, 19:45 BST) — tickets via the England Supporters Travel Club ballot, resale from ~£85. Czechia’s form (1–2 Croatia, heavy Mexico defeat in the summer data) says beatable; the H2H says careful (Czechia 2–1 winners in 2019 qualifying, England 5–0 the other way). Same night: Spain vs Croatia at the Pizjuán. Then Croatia vs England Oct 3 in Rijeka, England vs Czechia Oct 6 at Wembley, and the November return legs (Croatia Nov 12, Spain Nov 15). Elsewhere on opening night: Scotland drew 0–0 in Slovenia, Switzerland won 3–0 in North Macedonia, Finland hit seven in San Marino, Luxembourg won 2–1 in Bulgaria. The inquest runs to Tuesday; the answer has to come in Prague. Wembley now hosts the Czechs on October 6 with the group still shapeless — and England still pointless.