Harry Kane admitted England could have beaten Spain “on another day” after losing 3-2 to the world champions at the start of the Nations League.
Mark Gueye’s mistake allowed Lamine Yamar to score in the second minute and Anthony Gordon and Kane scored within four minutes of the first half as England came from behind to take the lead.
However, Spain turned the tables when Kane slipped and hit the crossbar while taking the penalty, with Alex Baena equalizing moments later.
Mikel Oyarzabal then took all three points for Spain and scored the winner in the Euro 2024 final to trouble England again.
England lost a game in which they had led at half-time for the first time since June 2019 (against the Netherlands in the Nations League). Since then, they have won 41 of their previous 42 games (D1) while leading at the break.
Kane has scored 17 goals in 19 appearances for England under Thomas Tuchel, but he has scored 39 of 40 penalties for club and country in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and has missed three of 16 penalties in all competitions so far in 2026.
Kane told ITV Sport: “I’ve said it before, we got to a good level at the World Cup but didn’t play the full 90 minutes.”
“It’s probably similar again. But we had some good moments; that period was the best we’ve played in a long time and that’s the standard we know we can reach.”
“We were playing against the world champions, the European champions and we were going toe-to-toe. On another day we would have won that game for sure.”
“We have to take the positives from it. We have to dust ourselves off and go again in a few days.”
this #ThreeLionsArmy narrowly defeated by the world champion @wembley stadium. pic.twitter.com/7Zx4Dx48ih
— England (@England) September 26, 2026
England defeated France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place final, conceding more than three goals in consecutive games for the first time since June 1995.
Overall, they have conceded 13 goals in their last six games, almost double the number (seven) they conceded in Tuchel’s first 17 games in charge.
But the Three Lions were disappointed as this was also the first time they had committed two errors in an official match since June 2019 against the Netherlands in the Nations League.
“I think it’s a bit of a missed opportunity,” Gordon told ITV Sport.
“I thought it was a good game to watch and be a part of; some attacking performances at the highest level. But I think in a game like this, mistakes cost you.
“You always feel like you gave up the game rather than them winning the game. But, of course, you can argue about both teams because they were as good as us and we were as good as them. I just feel guilty about those mistakes.”
Gordon, whose goal came at the end of a quick counter-attack, came just days after saying England needed to rely on their own strengths rather than trying to follow other teams’ styles.
Asked whether his goal was the epitome of how England should play, he added: “In terms of what I’ve said this week, if you want to put it that way, about being direct, playing in an English style, being quick and really putting teams at a disadvantage.”
“That kind of sums up what I’m saying, which is good, but it doesn’t lead to wins in the end.
“Like I said a few days ago, I don’t think there’s a gap [to Spain];I feel like we’re right there. We could win that game easily.
“I don’t think there’s a gap, and I think if we played them in the finals I’d feel confident. Confidence doesn’t always mean winning, but I think you saw here tonight that we’re a top team.”