Spain 2-3 England Player Ratings: Jude Bellingham 8.5/10 Performance Runs The Show In Statement Win Over La Roja

A statement night for Thomas Tuchel and England away reigning FIFA World Cup champions Spain in a fierce UEFA Nations League clash, they controlled long stretches during their 1-2 win. Despite surviving a chaotic spell with ten men following Elliot Anderson's dismissal, the Three Lions notched an important result inside Riyadh Air Metropolitano. We noticed how England’s physical edge and set-piece precision slowly broke Spain’s structure apart.

What stood out to us was how calm England remained after the red card. Even at 3-1, with the crowd roaring and Spain throwing bodies forward, there was a collective confidence about their pressing lines and compact mid-block. Spain, by contrast, looked rattled at key moments, especially whenever Jude Bellingham drove through the half-spaces.

From our perspective, this 3-1 away win was about mentality as much as tactics. England’s leaders, especially Bellingham and Kane, dragged the team through tricky phases and punished every Spanish mistake. Spain had flashes of their usual intricate play but lacked punch until Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty, and by then the damage was done.

Check out Spain vs England player ratings here!!

England Player Ratings vs Spain

Goalkeeper

James Trafford - 6: Trafford had a relatively quiet night despite Spain’s possession. We noticed his distribution was mixed, with some long balls going astray and inviting pressure. However, his shot-stopping did not falter on open-play efforts, even if he was beaten from the spot. From our perspective, he managed the box decently, coming for high balls when needed. There were a couple of slightly nervous touches under pressure, but nothing catastrophic. A solid, if unspectacular, showing in a tough away environment.

Defenders

Lewis Hall - 7: We really liked Hall’s blend of composure and aggression down the flank. He completed almost all his passes, which kept England’s build-up tidy under Spain’s press. His overlaps and final-third entries, including that early assist-like pass for Morgan Rogers’ blocked effort, showed intent. Defensively, his clearances and interceptions were well-timed, rarely diving in rashly. From our perspective, his offside call and a couple of fouls were minor blemishes. For a young defender in this atmosphere, this was a very mature performance.

Ezri Konsa - 8: Konsa’s header for England’s second was a massive moment, and it changed the game’s tone. We noticed how he attacked Declan Rice’s corner with conviction, completely overpowering his marker. Beyond the goal, his passing from the back was crisp and progressive, especially those final-third passes. Defensively he won most of his duels and stayed calm when Spain tried to overload centrally. From our perspective, his positioning on crosses was excellent, constantly in the right channel. One of England’s standout performers and comfortably a top-tier eight.

Jarell Quansah - 6: This felt like a learning night for Quansah. His six clearances underlined a willingness to attack the ball decisively. But we noticed he struggled aerially early on, losing several headers and duels. His long passing, though, opened the field at times and even triggered one attacking move. From our perspective, he sometimes over-committed when stepping into midfield, leaving space behind. Still, for a young defender in this kind of opponent’s stadium, he did enough to pass the test.

Ben White - 8: White’s goal, England’s third, came at a perfect moment, psychologically huge. He timed his run into the box brilliantly, then finished crisply into the bottom corner. We noticed his defensive work was equally sharp, winning tackles and staying switched on in one-v-one duels. His passing was efficient, rarely forcing risky balls in dangerous zones. From our perspective, his leadership on that right side, especially after the red card, really showed. An all-round excellent display that justifies a high rating.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 7: Rice’s night was a mix of grit and quality. His early yellow card could have rattled him, but instead we saw control and discipline thereafter. The cross for Konsa’s header was superb, a whipped, dangerous ball into the perfect zone. Defensively, he snapped into interceptions and tracked Spanish runners with real intensity. We noticed a few sloppy touches and lost possessions under pressure, which dragged the rating down slightly. Overall though, his presence in the middle underpinned England’s structure, especially before the red card chaos.

Elliot Anderson - 4.5: This was a strange, frustrating performance from Anderson. On the ball he was actually tidy, recycling possession and hitting accurate passes under Spain’s press. We noticed his defensive work-rate, constantly nipping in with interceptions and winning a few duels. But the sheer volume of fouls and the eventual red card completely changed the narrative. Conceding the penalty on Lamine Yamal and then walking off left his teammates under massive pressure. From our perspective, that rashness overshadows his earlier good work, so the low rating feels fair.

Jude Bellingham - 8.5: For us, Bellingham was the best player on the pitch by a distance. He drove England forward relentlessly, gliding past lines with those trademark surges. His two shots on target forced Unai Simón into important saves early on. The assist for Ben White was classic Jude: intelligent movement, composure, and the perfect final ball. We noticed his defensive contribution too, winning every duel and tracking runners selflessly. From our perspective, his body language radiated authority; he dictated tempo and mood. He is our clear man of the match and the highest rated player.

Anthony Gordon - 7: Gordon’s work without the ball really stood out to us. He pressed aggressively, forced rushed Spanish passes, and helped England win territory. His tackling numbers show how often he tracked back to double up defensively. On the offensive side, he had one shot blocked and a couple of dangerous carries. We noticed he sometimes rushed his decisions in the final third, losing possession cheaply. Still, his energy and tenacity on the flank set the tone for England’s edge. A strong two-way performance, even without goal contributions.

Morgan Rogers - 6.5: Rogers had flashes of real promise but lacked a finishing touch. His early chance from close range, created by Hall, really should have tested the keeper more. We noticed his dribbling was sharp in tight spaces, drawing fouls and unsettling defenders. However his decision-making in the box, including a big missed chance, felt rushed. Defensively, he worked hard, committing fouls but also winning free-kicks to relieve pressure. From our perspective, this was a decent but slightly wasteful outing.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 8.5: Kane’s penalty was ice-cold, right into the bottom corner under pressure. We noticed his all-round center-forward play, dropping deep and linking beautifully with Bellingham. He drew the foul for the spot-kick through clever movement and strength in the box. Off the ball, his pressing triggers helped England keep Spain uncomfortable in the first half. There were one or two turnovers and a missed long-range effort, but nothing alarming. From our perspective, his leadership and calmness were vital once Anderson was sent off.

Substitutes

England Substitutes - 6.5: We did not have full statistical detail for every substitute, but their impact was visible. After the red card, the fresh legs helped close spaces and slow Spain’s tempo. We noticed how the wide players tucked in narrow, protecting the full-backs more diligently. There were fewer forward runs, but that felt deliberate, a game-management approach. From our perspective, the subs’ discipline and energy, rather than flair, kept the scoreline safe. Overall, they did their jobs without stealing headlines.

Manager

T. Tuchel - 8: Tuchel’s game plan worked almost perfectly until the red card twist. England’s pressing traps in wide areas clearly unsettled Spain’s back line and midfield. We noticed how his set-piece routines, especially corners, were drilled and decisive. After Anderson’s dismissal, he shifted to a more compact shape without panicking. From our perspective, his in-game reactions, including timely substitutions, protected the result smartly. A well-coached, mature away performance that reflects well on his tactical authority.

Spain Player Ratings vs England

Goalkeeper

Unai Simón - 6: Simón faced a ruthless, efficient England rather than a barrage of shots. He made a couple of strong saves early on, especially from Bellingham’s efforts. However, conceding three, even with limited blame individually, still weighs on the rating. We noticed some shaky distribution, particularly under England’s high press, that invited pressure. His high claims and sweeping outside the box were mostly assured though. From our perspective, he was more a victim of defensive lapses than the main problem.

Defenders

Marc Pubill - 6: Pubill’s night ended early through injury, which always complicates ratings. We noticed he conceded a corner almost immediately, struggling to settle as England attacked. Defensively he had a couple of shaky moments positionally before being taken off. On the ball his passing was okay but nothing particularly progressive or daring. From our perspective, it felt like he never fully got into the game’s rhythm. A neutral six feels fair given the limited minutes.

Pau Cubarsí - 5: The penalty decision against Cubarsí was the pivotal moment that hurt his rating. He defended decently in open play, keeping his passing spotless with 100% accuracy. But we noticed his hesitation in the box, getting the wrong side of Kane. That kind of error at this level is brutally punished. From our perspective, his body language after conceding the penalty looked shaken, which affected his composure. A tough lesson for a young defender, and it showed.

Aymeric Laporte - 6: Laporte tried to inject calm from the back with his passing range. We noticed him stepping into midfield, threading balls into the half-spaces to progress play. Defensively he had some good duels, winning in the air and timing tackles. However, England’s second and third goals exposed weaknesses in Spain’s collective box defending. Laporte alone cannot cover everything, but his positioning on set-pieces could have been sharper. From our perspective, this was a mixed performance, somewhere between solid and slightly under-par.

Marc Cucurella - 5.5: Cucurella had a rough evening, and it really showed on his face. He gave away several fouls, picked up a yellow card, and never fully contained England’s wide threat. We noticed he was often a fraction late to duels, getting dragged out of position. On the ball he recycled decently, but offered limited attacking thrust down the flank. The penalty incident build-up and constant corners conceded just kept Spain under stress. From our perspective, he looked frustrated and slightly overwhelmed at times.

Midfielders

Fabián Ruiz - 6.5: Ruiz had neat spells but lacked a defining moment before being substituted. His passing lanes into the forwards were sharp, and he rarely misplaced simple balls. We noticed a couple of interceptions that broke up England counters. Yet he did not dominate the tempo like he can at club level. From our perspective, he was solid but overshadowed by England’s midfield aggressiveness. A decent contribution, but not enough to tilt the balance.

Mikel Merino - 6: Merino battled hard but struggled to truly impose himself. His shot from the box that got blocked showed his willingness to push forward. We noticed he was often the one trying to attack second balls. However, he also committed fouls and lost duels in dangerous zones. From our perspective, the error leading to a shot summed up his uneven night. Subbed at half-time, he never quite found the right rhythm.

Fabián Ruiz - 6.5: Ruiz’s role as a deep connector was clear. He tried to keep Spain ticking through short, sharp combinations. We noticed him dropping between centre-backs to build under pressure. Defensively he contributed with a couple of tackles and fouls drawn. However, his influence waned as England squeezed the central zones tighter. From our perspective, he was tidy but not decisive.

Lamine Yamal - 6.5: Yamal had a chaotic but intriguing game. He drew the penalty with a sharp movement inside the box, a huge contribution. We noticed his duels on the right wing, often winning free-kicks and frustrating England’s defenders. However, his passing accuracy was poor and he lost possession far too often. The yellow card reflected his rising frustration as the match slipped away. From our perspective, he was dangerous but inconsistent, still learning how to channel his talent.

Álex Baena - 6: Baena’s crossing quality flashed early, especially with that delivery for Pedro Porro’s header chance. We noticed his work-rate tracking back, making clearances and helping double up wide. However he lost most of his duels and collected a late yellow card. On the ball, he had some good touches but no killer final action. From our perspective, he tried to knit attacks together but was outmatched physically by England. A slightly below-par outing overall.

Martín Zubimendi - 6: Zubimendi quietly kept things ticking in the pivot area. His passing accuracy remained high, even under England’s intermittent press. We noticed he stepped into blocks and won the odd aerial, showing commitment. But he struggled to cover all the spaces once England transitioned quickly. From our perspective, he sometimes looked isolated, with England overloading around him. A respectable but not game-changing display.

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal - 7: Oyarzabal’s penalty was struck with confidence, giving Spain a lifeline at 3-1. We noticed his movement off the front line, drifting into half-spaces to link play. On the downside, he lost multiple duels and struggled to hold the ball under pressure. His finishing in open play did not get many chances due to England’s compactness. From our perspective, he still showed leadership by stepping up in a tense moment. A decent performance with a key goal, even if overall impact was limited.

Substitutes

Spain Substitutes - 6.5: Spain’s triple change at half-time definitely lifted their intensity. Pedri, Fermín López, and Dean Huijsen injected energy and sharper passing. We noticed Spain started pinning England back more after those introductions. However, the damage was largely done by then with England already two goals clear. From our perspective, the subs improved Spain, but without ruthless cutting edge in the box. Their impact earns them a collective positive, if not spectacular, rating.

Manager

L. De la Fuente Castillo - 5.5: From our perspective, De la Fuente got his initial approach slightly wrong. Spain looked too passive out of possession, allowing England to dominate transitions. His half-time changes were bold and did improve control. But the set-piece vulnerabilities and defensive naivety were never fully addressed. We noticed the team’s body language sag badly after each England goal. Ultimately, his tactical tweaks came too late to rescue this Nations League clash.