England v Spain: Three times the Three Lions came out on top
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After a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Friday night, England turn their attention to a friendly with Spain at Wembley.
The Three Lions have met the 2010 World Champions on a few occasions down the years, and their record at the home of football is impressive.
England have won 13 of the 24 meetings against La Furia Roja, and we’ve taken a trip down memory lane to pick out three of the best.
England 1-0 Spain Nov 2011
The reigning World and European champions headed to Wembley in 2011, where they came unstuck against a resilient England.
Under Fabio Capello, captain Frank Lampard scored the winning goal early in the second half.
Against one of the greatest sides of the modern era, featuring Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos and David Villa, this was, and still is, one of the Three Lions’ finest nights at the new Wembley.
England 3-0 Spain Feb 2001
One of England’s best performances of the 21st century came in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s first game in charge.
Nick Barmby, Emile Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu put the Spaniards to the sword at Villa Park, while Nigel Martyn saved a second-half penalty.
And it was no ordinary Spain team, with Ilker Casillas, Raul, Luis Enrique and a certain Pep Guardiola in the starting XI.
England 0-0 Spain June 1996 (England win 4-2 on penalties AET)
That glorious summer of 1996. Football was coming home, and after topping their group, Terry Venables’ England met Spain in the quarter-finals.
It was a tense affair, and after 120 minutes – including the first ever Golden Goal period of Extra-Time, penalties awaited.
Alan Shearer – ever the penalty expert – settled the nerves by dispatching the first spot-kick and by the time Stuart Pearce stepped up, England were looking at a 3-1 lead.
Everybody’s mind suddenly flew back six years. The pressure must have been huge, but Pyscho walloped his penalty into the back of the net, and treated us all to one of football’s most iconic images.
David Seaman then made his second penalty save of the tournament to deny Miguel Nadal, and the other hero of the Scotland victory Paul Gascoigne tucked away the match-winning spot-kick.
Marvellous.
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