England just handed world champions Spain a 3-2 defeat in the Nations League on Sunday, a result that completely shreds Spain’s jaw-dropping 44-match unbeaten streak in competitive games. Think about that for a second: 44 matches without a loss since March 2023, 43 including friendlies, GONE. England coach Thomas Tuchel didn’t mince words, calling it an “impressive” and “statement victory” for his Three Lions.
The First 60 Minutes Were Absolute Fire From England
Nobody saw this kind of start coming, not against *Spain*, the reigning world champions. But England roared out of the gate, absolutely lighting up the Metropolitano stadium and bagging a three-goal lead. Harry Kane, Ezri Konsa, and Ben White were the ones finding the back of the net, pushing England to what looked like an untouchable advantage. Tuchel was beaming, telling reporters he felt his players’ confidence, and he encouraged them to “be ourselves and to try and to push our limits on this stage today.” The German coach said his team “deservedly” built that 3-0 lead, and if you watched those first 60-65 minutes, you know he wasn’t wrong. The team spirit, belief, and unity on display were exactly what Tuchel had been talking about, proving his team’s quality on the biggest stage.
Clinging On, But That Win Still Counts for Everything
Now, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing all the way through, because, well, it’s Spain. Midfielder Elliot Anderson got sent off, leaving England with 10 men for the final half-hour. Spain, predictably, woke up, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams pulling two goals back. Tuchel admitted that red card and the penalty “changed the momentum and the characteristic of the game,” and going 30 minutes with a man down against Spain, *in Spain*, “feels like 3 hours.” But here’s the kicker: even after all that, Tuchel still called it a “complete performance” and the “best one so far” in his reign. His players knew what they put out there, and that “is the statement and that is the significance of this victory, that it was deserved.” After getting flak for their World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, where they also led, this win shows some serious progress. England took huge steps since that World Cup, especially given the pressure, the quality of the opponent, and the fact they just took down a team that literally hadn’t lost in 44 matches. What a win!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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