Spain 2 England 0

England’s limitations were exposed by this match-up against European Champions’ Spain. The England side bore strong similarity to that which had beaten Germany impressively back in November (Jagielka and Ashley Cole came in for Upson and Bridge at the back, whilst Heskey replaced Defoe in attack) but they found Spain a sterner test. Spain dominated possession and were almost always in control of the game. England did not respond tamely in response and did fashion one good chance in the first-half, but Gabriel Agbonlahor turned Stewart Downing’s cross just wide. And whilst Spain played some attractive football, it initially seemed that England would prevent them converting the pleasing aesthetics into something more penetrative; but on 36 minutes David Villa punctured this illusion, as he adroitly turned Phil Jakielka on the edge of the box and shot past James.

Spain were also on top in the second-half and pressed England high up the pitch so they could not generate any momentum. England’s interplay was usually hurried and often resulted in them going backwards. Spain doubled their lead when a Xavi free-kick was headed home by Fernando Llorente. England did contrive a couple of reasonable attacks towards the close of the game and nearly grabbed a consolation: substitute David Beckham cleverly made room for himself in midfield and played a through-ball to debutant Carlton Cole. Cole rounded goalkeeper Reina but was forced wide and his shot was cleared by Pique. Beckham looked perhaps the most accomplished of England’s players on this difficult evening, and he again asserted that he has more to offer at this level.

In the last friendly, with several established ’stars’ absent, it seemed like England had made some sort of breakthrough at a team-level. This most recent performance suggests that the stars might not be quite so expendable after all! An away defeat to arguably the best international side does not represent a backward step for Capello’s men. But it does intimate England’s current position in the international hierarchy – and it is some way below the European Champions. The pattern of Capello’s approach has largely been effective overall, and it is hard to see how it could have been changed to better effect against Spain. Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry were conservative in central midfield, but Capello has tended to employ quite deep central midfielders in previous games and this has not diminished the team’s attacking impact. This pragmatism should thus not be eschewed; England must endeavour to develop offensively throughout the World Cup qualifiers without compromising their burgeoning solidity.