Sport · Football

Inglaterra – España: Wembley opens Nations League rematch

England host Spain at Wembley in a UEFA Nations League opener that also serves as a rematch of the Euro 2024 final. Thomas Tuchel begins his second tournament in charge with several absentees, while Spain arrives after beating Argentina for the title in July.

By matthew jonathan

September 29, 20263 min read

Inglaterra - España: Wembley opens Nations League rematch — Inglaterra

WEMBLEY — Inglaterra - España kicked off at Wembley on Saturday with Thomas Tuchel beginning his second tournament in charge of England and Luis de la Fuente’s Spain returning to action after lifting the World Cup in July. The UEFA Nations League opener doubled as a rematch of the Euro 2024 final.

The stakes were obvious from the start. England were asked to handle a Spain side that arrived as world champions, while the hosts had to do it with several key absentees.

Spain won that Euro 2024 final 2-1 two years ago, with Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring on either side of a Cole Palmer equalizer. This meeting brought the same tension, and the same crowd noise, back to Wembley.

Inglaterra - España reopened old wounds at Wembley

England entered the match without Palmer, who was left out of Tuchel’s World Cup selection, and they were also missing Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento, according to the team update. On the Spain side, Barcelona pair Joan Garcia and Gavi were ruled out through injury, while Tottenham’s Pedro Porro also missed out.

That absences list mattered. It shaped the shape of the game before a ball was even kicked. England had less room to rotate. Spain had fewer defensive options than usual.

There was still quality all over the pitch. Jude Bellingham tested Unai Simón with a left-footed effort from the left side of the box, only for the Spain goalkeeper to keep it out in the top left corner. Moments later, Bellingham sent another shot from outside the box toward the center of goal, and Simón stopped that one too.

England kept pressing. Morgan Rogers won a free kick on the right wing, while Bellingham again drew a foul in the attacking half and then in the defensive half. Small details. Big pressure.

Spain’s late edge changed the mood

The live updates also showed Spain edging toward control late in the contest. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the center of the box to make it England 2, Spain 3, with Álex Baena providing the assist.

By then, the match had already swung through several tense moments. Lamine Yamal missed from outside the box, sending a left-footed effort too high. England responded with changes, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin coming on for Harry Kane and Morgan Gibbs-White replacing Bukayo Saka.

Even after that, England kept chasing the game. Jarrad Branthwaite replaced Marc Guéhi in the closing stages, and the fourth official signaled five minutes of added time. The home side still had one last push left.

The bigger picture is hard to miss. Tuchel’s second tournament in charge begins against the team that beat England in the Euro 2024 final, and Spain’s status as the reigning world champion gives every meeting extra weight. For both teams, this is not just a group match. It is a measuring stick.

Spain’s lead had already survived several late England attempts when the clock moved into stoppage time, with Unai Simón still making saves and England still sending balls forward. The next round of this rivalry now starts from that 3-2 margin.