Spain could have become the first team to qualify for a place in the four-team finals in the Nations League next summer had they won in Seville but the La Furia Roja fell short, going down 3-2.
Here are our player ratings on the night:
Spain player ratings:
DAVID DE GEA (out of 10): The Manchester United goalkeeper had no chance with the three goals but that will not look good on a man who had a bad World Cup. 5.
JONNY: Making his first Spain start, the Wolves full-back struggled against the sheer pace of England’s attacking triumvirate. 5.
NACHO: Like his fellow defenders was left more and more exposed as Spain chased the game. 5.
SERGIO RAMOS: Adored in this part of the world but lacked his usual self-confidence as England’s goals flowed. Scored with the last touch of the game to reduce the arrears. 6.
MARCOS ALONSO: Forlornly appealed for offside as Sterling got inside to put England in front having seen an early, point-blank effort saved – hit the bar in stoppage time. 6.
SERGIO BUSQUETS: Normally such a great defensive shield the Barcelona man was over-run too many times. 6.
THIAGO ALCANTARA: Came close to giving Spain the lead and always oozes class, even if he had little scope to do so for large periods of the evening. 7.
SAUL NIGUEZ: Not able to give his Atletico Madrid best and was hooked for goalscorer Paco Alcacer with Spain chasing the game. 5.
IAGO ASPAS: Largely innocuous before making way early in the second-half. 5.
MARCOS ASENSIO: Passed up a decent early chance but worked tirelessly in an attempt to get his side back into the contest. 6.
RODRIGO: Closed down Jordan Pickford but was then challenged by the England number one before he could turn home. 6.
SUBSTITUTES:
PACO ALCACER (for Saul, 57): Such an in-form striker but not first-choice, he nodded in with his first touch to give the hosts some hope. 7.
DANI CEBALLOS (for Aspas, 57): Injected some more fluidity into Spain’s attacks. 6.
ALVARO MORATA (for Rodrigo, 72): The Chelsea forward was Luis Enrique’s last throw of the dice but could not react quickly enough to turn home from close-range in the closing stages. 5.
