Harry Kane rues missed chances after defeat in Alicante

Friday 13 Nov 2015
Harry Kane applauds England's fans

Harry Kane says it was a case of missed opportunities as England suffered their first defeat since the World Cup, losing 2-0 away in Spain.

Two fine strikes in the last 20 minutes from Villarreal defender Mario Gaspar and Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla stopped Roy Hodgson's team from extending their 15-game unbeaten run.

However, the Tottenham striker, who was winning his seventh cap for the Three Lions, believes their "organised" defensive display was undone by a moment of magic, and had Roy Hodgson's men taken their own chances the story in Alicante may have had an alternate ending.

Spain 2-0 England

International match
Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante
Friday 13 November 2015

"We had chances where, if we'd have been a bit more clinical in the final third, things would have been different," said Kane.

"They played good possession football but we were well-organised and we caught them on the counter-attack. 

"It was just that our final ball or our final shot could have been better today."  

He continued: "I had a few chances where I know I probably could have done better, on another day we score goals. 

"But the first goal was important and obviously Spain got it. We were solid up to that point but the guy has pulled off a world-class volley. 

"Sometimes you've got to hold your hands up, but even after that we had another couple of chance that we could have done better with, but that's football at the highest level, you've got to take your chances."

Kane, 22, says that despite the defeat England will take away some positives and will have learned from the experience of facing the current European champions away from home.

He said: "Spain are a world-class side and have some great players, but these are the teams we've got to be playing against.

"It's good to test ourselves and we gained a lot from it, lots of experience and we know what we've got to work on.

"We have been undone by a good goal, a great finish. But there are a lot of positives and we just have to stay confident."

Harry Kane fires a shot on the Spain goal

Harry Kane fires a shot on the Spain goal

And Kane was also pleased for his Spurs club-mate Eric Dier, who came off the bench in the second half to make his senior debut at just 21 years old.

"I'm delighted for him, he's been great this season and fully deserves it," said Kane.

"He did well when he came on, he didn't look out of place.

"The future's bright, he's still only young, and it would have been a great experience for him."

By Jamie Bradbury FA Editor At Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante