That’s one way to silence the chants of “olé”. Just as England’s young guns were being given a lesson in the art of possession by Spain, Danny Welbeck equalised with two minutes remaining. As Spain appealed vainfully for offside, the Manchester United striker turned brilliantly and calmly stroked the ball past David de Gea, his future colleague.
Until the excellent Kyle Walker set up Welbeck’s rescue act, England had been static, too uninspired. Spain moved the ball around so swiftly, particularly when the outstanding trio of Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and the goalscorer Ander Herrera were in possession.
Whatever the controversy over Herrera’s 15th-minute goal, Spain looked far more comfortable in possession in the first half. This was always going to be a test for England.
Spain’s superior technique was soon in evidence, particularly when the ball in the confident sway of Juan Mata, the Valencia winger. Javi Martinez, the strong Athletic Bilbao holding midfielder, also looked typically composed, dropping into defence and also spraying passes around.
Thiago Alcantara, exuding class despite an early booking, was also involved in this Barcelona-style carousel, moving the ball around, keeping it effortlessly from England’s attempts at regaining possession. One of Thiago’s little shimmies, sending Michael Mancienne towards Sweden while he headed towards Norway, drew admiring gasps from the audience, who had eventually negotiated the security checks to enter the sunlit home of FC Midjtylland.
One of Herrera’s clipped passes to Mata also earned copious applause. When Uefa revealed the first-half stats showing Spain having 62 per cent possession, there were echoes of Barcelona versus Manchester United at Wembley.
Spain looked like they had grown up enjoying the ball’s company while England looked athletic, determined but chasing shadows. The one English player who had really looked at ease on a pitch with Spain’s finest this season, Jack Wilshere, was sadly absent, kept behind by Arsenal.
Wilshere could have kept the ball better, certainly better than Mancienne. Another Jack, Rodwell, could have been forgiven for wondering what he had to get a start.
Clubs cast a long shadow over England. A group of Reading fans serenaded the reserve keeper, Alex McCarthy. Spurs supporters queued for the autograph of Harry Redknapp, who even signed the tattoo of the Spurs crest on a fan’s calf. England finished the half strongly, typically drawing on old strengths, getting wide through Kyle Walker and Danny Rose and working the channels.
In possession, England worked the channels, seeking to get on the end of crosses, allowing David de Gea to show why United pursued him so eagerly.
For all the talk of England being 4-2-3-1, they were often more 4-4-2 with Danny Welbeck or Daniel Sturridge taking it in turns to drop into midfield. If this was good old-fashioned England, they were also undone by a set-piece.
Spain were typically smooth at racing through the gears, forcing Chris Smalling into an emergency sliced clearance, conceding a corner.
Mata drilled in the corner, the ball met powerfully by Javi Martinez, whose downward header was headed in by Herrera, the Real Zaragoza midfielder. TV replays appeared to show Herrera using his hand but there were no complaints from the England players.
England should certainly have been marking better. For a while after that, Spain were in complete control, their confidence in possession hinting at another masterclass. Within two minutes of Herrera’s goal, Jeffren raced past Walker. But the Spurs full-back, who had shown such good form on loan to Aston Villa, was soon demonstrating his more positive side, soon linking with Tom Cleverley.
One of Cleverley’s crosses drew a confident catch from De Gea. England tried to raise their game, tried to find a way through. Ryan Bertrand released Welbeck, who encouraged Danny Rose to get to the byeline. His drilled cross was almost met by Sturridge. This perked England up, and Henderson and Welbeck were soon combining, only for De Gea to protect his goal with stunning athleticism. From a Walker cross, De Gea made another fine stop. United have bought a class act.
England’s keeper, Frankie Fielding, showed his abilities shortly before the hour-mark, pushing away a shot from Herrera that had deflected off Phil Jones. Jones was then joined by Smalling in blocking a Herrera shot.
Pearce had to act. After 66 minutes, the disappointing pair of Mancienne and Rose were removed for Rodwell and Henri Lansbury.
Lansbury was immediately involved, pushing down the inside-right channel but this Spanish side can contain as well as create.
Herrera was not shy of putting in tackles, felling Welbeck after 70 minutes. England kept probing, kept looking for that equaliser. After the group favourites Czech Republic’s winning start, defeating Ukraine earlier in the day, England knew that they were up against it. They could ill-afford the sort of misplaced passes as the one from
Smalling that played Walker into real trouble, requiring a foul to stop the lively Herrera. A few chants of “olé” were now beginning to follow Spain’s movement, particularly when Martin Montoya almost scored and when Mata nutmegged Smalling.
Rodwell then hinted at why he should have started, picking up the ball deep and drilling it long for Sturridge. Again Spain held firm, Alvaro Dominguez heading clear. Spain quickly raced down the other end and only smart defending by Smalling, timing his tackle perfectly, thwarted Jeffren.
But there is a determination in Pearce’s team, and when Walker drove down the right and cut in, Welbeck did the rest. Fortune favoured the persistent.
Until the excellent Kyle Walker set up Welbeck’s rescue act, England had been static, too uninspired. Spain moved the ball around so swiftly, particularly when the outstanding trio of Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and the goalscorer Ander Herrera were in possession.
Whatever the controversy over Herrera’s 15th-minute goal, Spain looked far more comfortable in possession in the first half. This was always going to be a test for England.
Spain’s superior technique was soon in evidence, particularly when the ball in the confident sway of Juan Mata, the Valencia winger. Javi Martinez, the strong Athletic Bilbao holding midfielder, also looked typically composed, dropping into defence and also spraying passes around.
Thiago Alcantara, exuding class despite an early booking, was also involved in this Barcelona-style carousel, moving the ball around, keeping it effortlessly from England’s attempts at regaining possession. One of Thiago’s little shimmies, sending Michael Mancienne towards Sweden while he headed towards Norway, drew admiring gasps from the audience, who had eventually negotiated the security checks to enter the sunlit home of FC Midjtylland.
One of Herrera’s clipped passes to Mata also earned copious applause. When Uefa revealed the first-half stats showing Spain having 62 per cent possession, there were echoes of Barcelona versus Manchester United at Wembley.
Spain looked like they had grown up enjoying the ball’s company while England looked athletic, determined but chasing shadows. The one English player who had really looked at ease on a pitch with Spain’s finest this season, Jack Wilshere, was sadly absent, kept behind by Arsenal.
Wilshere could have kept the ball better, certainly better than Mancienne. Another Jack, Rodwell, could have been forgiven for wondering what he had to get a start.
Clubs cast a long shadow over England. A group of Reading fans serenaded the reserve keeper, Alex McCarthy. Spurs supporters queued for the autograph of Harry Redknapp, who even signed the tattoo of the Spurs crest on a fan’s calf. England finished the half strongly, typically drawing on old strengths, getting wide through Kyle Walker and Danny Rose and working the channels.
For all the talk of England being 4-2-3-1, they were often more 4-4-2 with Danny Welbeck or Daniel Sturridge taking it in turns to drop into midfield. If this was good old-fashioned England, they were also undone by a set-piece.
Spain were typically smooth at racing through the gears, forcing Chris Smalling into an emergency sliced clearance, conceding a corner.
Mata drilled in the corner, the ball met powerfully by Javi Martinez, whose downward header was headed in by Herrera, the Real Zaragoza midfielder. TV replays appeared to show Herrera using his hand but there were no complaints from the England players.
England should certainly have been marking better. For a while after that, Spain were in complete control, their confidence in possession hinting at another masterclass. Within two minutes of Herrera’s goal, Jeffren raced past Walker. But the Spurs full-back, who had shown such good form on loan to Aston Villa, was soon demonstrating his more positive side, soon linking with Tom Cleverley.
One of Cleverley’s crosses drew a confident catch from De Gea. England tried to raise their game, tried to find a way through. Ryan Bertrand released Welbeck, who encouraged Danny Rose to get to the byeline. His drilled cross was almost met by Sturridge. This perked England up, and Henderson and Welbeck were soon combining, only for De Gea to protect his goal with stunning athleticism. From a Walker cross, De Gea made another fine stop. United have bought a class act.
England’s keeper, Frankie Fielding, showed his abilities shortly before the hour-mark, pushing away a shot from Herrera that had deflected off Phil Jones. Jones was then joined by Smalling in blocking a Herrera shot.
Pearce had to act. After 66 minutes, the disappointing pair of Mancienne and Rose were removed for Rodwell and Henri Lansbury.
Lansbury was immediately involved, pushing down the inside-right channel but this Spanish side can contain as well as create.
Herrera was not shy of putting in tackles, felling Welbeck after 70 minutes. England kept probing, kept looking for that equaliser. After the group favourites Czech Republic’s winning start, defeating Ukraine earlier in the day, England knew that they were up against it. They could ill-afford the sort of misplaced passes as the one from
Smalling that played Walker into real trouble, requiring a foul to stop the lively Herrera. A few chants of “olé” were now beginning to follow Spain’s movement, particularly when Martin Montoya almost scored and when Mata nutmegged Smalling.
Rodwell then hinted at why he should have started, picking up the ball deep and drilling it long for Sturridge. Again Spain held firm, Alvaro Dominguez heading clear. Spain quickly raced down the other end and only smart defending by Smalling, timing his tackle perfectly, thwarted Jeffren.
But there is a determination in Pearce’s team, and when Walker drove down the right and cut in, Welbeck did the rest. Fortune favoured the persistent.
