Phoenix 24
World champions returned by proving they can suffer and respond.
London
Spain began its new competitive cycle as two time world champion with a dramatic 3-2 victory over England at Wembley in the Nations League. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring before two minutes had elapsed, giving Luis de la Fuente’s side an ideal start in its first official match after winning the 2026 World Cup. England responded before halftime through Anthony Gordon and an own goal involving Marc Cucurella. For the first time since November 2025, Spain found itself trailing in an official match.
The match could have changed completely when Rodri brought down Jude Bellingham inside the penalty area. Harry Kane stepped forward with the opportunity to make it 3-1, but his penalty struck the crossbar. That miss preserved Spain’s route back into the game and gave De la Fuente an opportunity to change the rhythm from the bench.
Those substitutions proved decisive. Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal entered in the 54th minute and immediately altered Spain’s attacking structure. Baena equalized five minutes later with a shot from outside the area, and Oyarzabal completed the comeback after combining with Baena and lifting the ball over the goalkeeper. Two substitutes had transformed the match and turned a possible defeat into another statement of resilience.
The result carried historical weight as well. It was only Spain’s third victory at Wembley in ten visits, following previous wins in 1981 and 2018. More importantly, it extended Spain’s unbeaten run in official matches to 39, reinforcing the consistency that has defined De la Fuente’s tenure.
That streak now connects two different achievements. Spain is no longer simply the team that won the World Cup in July. It is a side attempting to build continuity after that success while integrating different players without losing its collective identity. The second star above the badge therefore arrives with an immediate challenge: proving that the title was not the end of a cycle, but the beginning of another.
Wembley offered an early answer. Spain was ahead, fell behind, survived a penalty and still found a way to win.
Hechos que no se doblan. / Facts that do not bend.