We can’t lick our wounds or be upset, we’ve got to take what we can out of it.
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Spain fullback Mario Gaspar scored with a stunning volley and midfielder Santi Cazorla added a late goal as the European champions handed England a chastening 2-0 defeat in a friendly between the continental heavyweights on Friday.
England boss Roy Hodgson meanwhile lamented his side’s inability to take advantage of their few counter-attacking opportunities. Harry Kane, playing as a lone striker supported by Barkley, should have found the target after England’s best passing move of the contest, but shot tamely wide of the target.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque felt England played reasonably well.
England still have a few way to go before they can match Spain and mount a real challenge for worldwide silverware, Roy Hodgson has admitted.
“I am telling you that because Wayne and I are very anxious that we are not trying to fool anyone or bamboozle them by the fact he has sat alongside me today and when the team sheet comes out tomorrow he might not be on it”.
“We all want to play the games and hopefully we can give the manager something to think about in our performances”.
Marc Bartra could accompany Gerard Pique in central defense.
“It is just about staying positive now for the game on Tuesday”.
Iker Casillas was finely forced into action 10 minutes before half-time when he trapped Kane’s weak effort before Fabian Delph tested the Porto keeper more seriously with a fierce drive that Casillas collected at the second attempt.
England’s Ross Barkley, right, goes for the ball with Spain’s…
“It doesn’t matter that I didn’t score the important thing is that Spain performed well”, Costa, who has come under criticism from Del Bosque over his Premier League disciplinary problems, told reporters.
Any hopes England had of taking the lead were dashed in the 72nd minute when Fabregas chipped a ball into the box and Mario unleashed an acrobatic volley that flew past Hart.
Hodgson recalled Carrick after the World Cup, but the midfielder has only started two games due to injury.
England responded with a spell of pressure ” Kane losing his footing when picked out by Dier in the area ” but Cazorla had the final word.
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Captain Steven Davis returned to the scene of his finest hour for Northern Ireland and again played match-winner as Michael O’Neill’s men ended their long wait for a friendly victory with a 1-0 success over Latvia.
