Gareth Southgate praised his side’s ‘special’ performance after he continued his unbeaten run as interim manager with a 2-2 draw against Spain.
England had looked set for much more after the outstanding Adam Lallana scored his third international goal in as many games with a supremely well-taken penalty in the ninth minute.
Man of the match Jamie Vardy then doubled England’s lead just after half-time, meeting Jordan Henderson’s out-swinging cross with a well-timed diving header that left Spain keeper Pepe Reina helpless.
It was England who continued to have the better chances, the hosts looking lively in front of almost 84,000 fans as Theo Walcott and Jesse Lingard both went close as the half wore on.
Iago Aspas pulled a goal back for Spain on 90 minutes with a well-struck effort that ricocheted off the post before beating Tom Heaton and then Isco finished from a tight angle with the game’s final kick to deny Southgate a third win in four games.
But the England interim manager was proud of the way his side coped with a Spanish side packed with world-class talent.
“I think it was a fantastic performance and a fantastic effort, I am so pleased with the way we pressed in particular,” the 46-year-old said.
“At times we used the ball very well and we were a threat on the counter. Maybe as the second half wore on, we started to tire.
“I have proved that I can handle big occasions. Until you are thrown into the spotlight in matches like last Friday under intense pressure and tactical challenges like today, you are never sure how it is going to be.
“Tonight’s performance was really very special.
“We know the level and the improvement that has been made. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they have tried everything we wanted to do. I have loved doing it.”
Southgate’s decision to start with Vardy up front paid near immediate dividends when Lallana picked out the lightning-fast forward with an inch-perfect cross and Reina was forced to bring down the Leicester man.
It was Liverpool’s Lallana who stepped up to take the resulting ninth-minute penalty and he made no mistake, thundering into the top corner.
The pace of Lingard, Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling was a constant threat in the first half, all three finding tremendous amounts of space in behind Spain’s Dani Carvajal and Cesar Azpilicueta.
And at the beginning of the second period, Vardy made an initial break down the left before attempting to play the ball into the box.
The clearing header went as far as captain Henderson, whose pinpoint cross found Vardy in acres of spaces and free to head past Reina.
Spain’s control of possession and influx of fresh legs late on helped turn the tide in Spain’s favour and fittingly, it was two substitutes – Isco and Aspas – who claimed the goals.
But Southgate was happy to pick the positives from this, insisting it would offer a marker for this young England side going forward.
“Keeping the ball better will allow us to conserve energy, but we have played one of the best teams in world football and the test for the players was phenomenal,” the 57-cap former England defender said.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more of them.
“Maybe in the long run not winning a game like that will be better for us because we know what we have to do.
“I have loved the experience and I am just pleased that we have fulfilled the remit we were given.”
