Kane penalty miss precedes Spain’s comeback win over England at Wembley

Spain beat England 3-2 at Wembley on Saturday after Harry Kane missed a penalty that could have extended England’s 2-1 lead. The miss came in the 54th minute; Spain equalised six minutes later and scored the winner in the 74th, turning the Nations League opener into a defeat for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Lamine Yamal had put Spain ahead early. Anthony Gordon then finished an England counterattack to level the score, before Kane headed in Nico O’Reilly’s cross to give England a 2-1 lead before half-time. England had recovered from one deficit and moved in front; they did not equalise twice.

The missed chance and Spain’s response

A VAR review led to England’s penalty after Rodri’s challenge on Jude Bellingham, according to Sky Sports’ match report. Kane slipped as he took the kick and struck the crossbar. Álex Baena, introduced in the second half, made it 2-2 in the 60th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal, another substitute, scored the winner 14 minutes later from a Baena pass.

Tuchel told Sky Sports that England had opportunities to win but made too many clear-cut mistakes. He said Spain were more clinical in the final 20 metres. His assessment fits a match in which England produced a strong attacking spell but could not protect its lead after the penalty miss.

Why the ‘minute 55’ comparison has limits

Writing for The Guardian, Barney Ronay compared the shift in this match with England’s earlier defeat by Argentina, when England also lost control after going ahead around the 55th minute. He argued that England played better against Spain and remained more competitive after the momentum changed. That comparison is an analysis of two matches, rather than proof of a recurring tactical or psychological problem.

The match record places Kane’s penalty in the 54th minute and Spain’s equaliser in the 60th. Those events explain the immediate change in the score; whether England’s two defeats reveal a wider pattern remains open to interpretation.