England's top-10 woes resurface ahead of Nations League clash with Spain

Three Lions face familiar test against La Roja

The Wembley meeting with Spain on Saturday comes three months after England agonisingly missed out on a World Cup final rematch with La Roja, having lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. That would have been a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, which England also lost.

Record against elite opposition

In their past 15 matches against sides ranked in the top 10 in the world according to Fifa rankings, England have won six. Three of those wins came at major tournaments – the Euro semi-finals in 2021 and 2024 against Denmark and the Netherlands, and the bronze-medal match against France at this summer’s World Cup.

The victory over Les Bleus to take third place was Thomas Tuchel’s first win as England boss over a top-10 opponent, and his first win over opposition ranked inside the top 20 came in the opening group game at the tournament against Croatia.

When faced with really elite opposition, England continue to stumble. Particularly at the World Cup.

England have been eliminated every time they have faced a top-10 ranked nation in the knockout stages of the World Cup since 1998 – seven times out of seven. In their past 10 World Cup games against sides ranked in the top 10, their sole win came in the 2002 group stage against Argentina.

When faced with the defending world champions at the World Cup, they have lost on all four occasions: 1954 – Uruguay 4-2 England; 1962 – Brazil 3-1 England; 2022 – England 1-2 France; 2026 – England 1-2 Argentina.

Euros near misses

England have fared better at the Euros, overcoming top-10 opponents in Denmark and the Netherlands to reach the final at the past two tournaments but ultimately falling at the final hurdle on both occasions against Spain in 2024 and Italy in 2020.

Possession has been a recurring issue. England’s lowest possession in their last 15 games against top-10 opponents came in the semi-final against Argentina (35.8%) at this summer’s World Cup and in those Euros finals against Spain (34.9%) and Italy (42.1%).

Kane: ‘We just need to be ourselves’

England’s all-time top scorer Harry Kane, with 85 goals, was asked which missing ingredient was needed to get them over the line.

"I think it’s just in those biggest moments, still being ourselves. The Argentina game was so hard to take, because we had a mindset of going to win the tournament, win in our way and our style, and if we lose trying to do that then we will take that. The Argentina game was maybe the first game we tried ‘not to lose’ in the last 30 minutes and then we ended up losing anyway."

"I have experienced it at Bayern Munich for example, you don’t fear anyone. You go and be yourself, if a team beats you, shake their hand after and say well done. You have an identity that you keep throughout. I think with England now that is where we need to look. We are very close, we have been very close but ultimately, we don’t need to fear anyone. We just need to be ourselves in the biggest moments and hopefully get over the line."

Same questions continue to resurface

At Euro 2020, the last-16 win over Germany was huge – beating one of the historic footballing powers. But that was a German side in transition who were, at the time, ranked outside the world’s top 10. England were then beaten by Italy in the final after taking the lead, dropping deep and giving up possession before losing on penalties.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Three Lions started with a free-flowing 6-2 win over Iran. But yet again the same issues resurfaced. Despite largely being the better team against France, a Harry Kane missed penalty and Les Bleus’ know-how put England out at the quarter-final stage.

Euro 2024 proved one tournament too far for Gareth Southgate. The team did not play anywhere near their best, relying on individual quality to get through. A last-gasp Ollie Watkins strike was needed to beat the Netherlands in the semis while Kane was not at full fitness and without him at his best, the team never troubled a formidable Spain side.

After a flawless 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and a new elite coach in Tuchel, many thought this was England’s time for glory. But despite showing togetherness and grit in the last-16 win over Mexico, the same old problems once again sunk England.

The Three Lions cannot seem to translate world-class talent into ball possession and control of the game, with Tuchel saying he may have to embrace the chaos, and Anthony Gordon adding that England should lean on their traditional direct style.