Although things began to look a little shaky in the second-half, England eked out a 3-2 win against Spain in Seville. In their penultimate UEFA Nations League tie, the full plethora of Spain vs England goals made for tremendously entertaining viewing.
As for England, their fans haven't been this excited in, well, months.
It’s coming home.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) October 15, 2018
That is a brilliant and also slightly bizarre win for England. Unbelievably clinical with some wonderful moves and yet on another night they could have still lost. Plenty of positives but Southgate won't be getting carried away. He's too sensible for that.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) October 15, 2018
All the Spain vs England goals:
At half-time in tonight's game against Spain, England fans were searching - legitimately, perhaps - for the last time their team had played this well in a competitive fixture.
Taking the Spaniards on in Seville, Gareth Southgate's men had raced out into a 3-0 lead. Goals from Raheem Sterling (2) and Marcus Rashford, pieced together with some wonderful work from Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford, had justified the extent to which England controlled the opening 45-minutes.
This is a stunning goal from England.
Raheem Sterling breaks the deadlock in Spain to finish a 17-pass move!
What about that pass from Jordan Pickford? #NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/RsYPU7BDhC— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 15, 2018
Pickford ⚽️⬆️➡️ Kane ⚽️➡️ Rashford - GOAL!
Marcus Rashford makes it 2-0 to England in Spain.
Live on Virgin Media Sport & Virgin Media Three.#NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/C71QrTdA2i— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 15, 2018
Spain 0-3 England after 38 minutes! 😲
Raheem Sterling gets his 2nd of the night.
What a ball from Ross Barkley! 👏👏👏
Live on Virgin Media Sport & Virgin Media Three.#NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/kbdiOIjjMK— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 15, 2018
Sitting pretty at the half-way mark, England's success had been largely self-determined. Delivering the kind of performance that many onlookers quietly suspected they may be capable of, Sterling's delight was particularly pleasing to most watching.
As Spain geared up for the second-half, Luis Enrique would have been all too aware that Spain's astonishingly strong home record was now in danger of being undone.
Having ended England's own strong run of performances at Wembley only a few weeks earlier, Spain did indeed emerge for the second-half of tonight's game looking like the 3-goal margin might indeed be within their reach.
Grabbing two goals from Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos, it would ultimately not be enough. However, they do make for some impressive viewing all the same.
There's not many strikers in world football in better form right now than Paco Alcácer!
The Dortmund man, on loan from Barcelona, pulls one back for Spain!#NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/nZ44t7orJM— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 15, 2018
FT in Seville.
Sergio Ramos heads a 97th minute goal for the hosts but it finishes Spain 2-3 England.
Arguably the best game we've seen in the #NationsLeague!
Reaction to come on Virgin Media Sport! #VMSport pic.twitter.com/6Auw1Xxsta— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 15, 2018
With the Real Madrid captain Ramos grabbing Spain's second deep into injury-time, it would in fact be the last action of the game.
