The Verdict: Hackett lambasts England man but praises referee for 'good performance'

[p]The Three Lions playing La Roja at Wembley Stadium is always a popular fixture regardless of the form of either squad.[/p][infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][h2]A capacity crowd of 84,525[/h2][p]That it was the reigning world champions who were coming to town against an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] squad who could, realistically, have at least made the World Cup final in the summer made this particular match-up extra special.[/p][p]The Nations League has its detractors, mainly because it fills up empty gaps in the schedules when arguably players could do with a rest.[/p][image alt="England v Spain - Match stats" id="63e9457d-b118-46bf-89b3-a4310220c6f2" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="c2729172-e525-45dc-ad13-3277b8a00e97" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]However, over the course of its short life as a competition, there have been some notable games, and Saturday's fixture in front of a capacity 84,525 was no exception.[/p][p][b]"Prior to kick-off, there were tributes to former England internationals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/keegan-kevin/IPPGYx9t/"]Kevin Keegan[/a], Bobby Tambling, Mike Bailey and Jimmy Rimmer,"[/b] Hackett noted.[/p][p][b]"These were players that I have officiated, and Keegan was someone I witnessed at close quarters both as a player and manager. A passionate man but respectful of match officials."[/b][/p][infobox id="5a8fbd57-e97c-4bdc-9f6b-fb0fb254e893" /][h2]Poor from Guehi[/h2][p]The majority of the crowd wouldn't have expected the early dilly-dallying from the normally dependable [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guehi-marc/KEeklutO/"]Marc Guehi[/a], which allowed Spain's jewel in the crown, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a], to win possession and fire past a helpless [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trafford-james/ET616yZQ/"]James Trafford[/a] with the game barely a few minutes old.[/p][p]Things might've got a whole lot worse when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a] also found the net before the 10-minute mark, though the goal was chalked off for offside. [b]"It was a lovely cross into Torres, but the goal was correctly ruled out,"[/b] Hackett agreed.[/p][embed guid="58be2a6e-b9c1-4033-b23b-693252f5f25d" url="https://x.com/SEFutbol/status/2103923304092537160" social-type="twitter" /][p]For anyone watching in the stadium or on television, it was obvious why the Spanish had been on a record-breaking unbeaten run. [b]"England were holding on at this stage, only making passes backwards or sideways, which was hardly going to worry the opposition, nor was it entertaining,"[/b] Hackett pondered.[/p][p]Despite what might be considered a poor start, England somehow turned the game around in the space of four minutes, firstly as a result of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a]'s skill and then his pace.[/p][h2]Gordon's excellence[/h2][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] winger received the ball before back-heeling it to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] and racing clear of the Spanish defence.[/p][p]Bellingham's pinpoint delivery into him meant that Gordon didn't need to break his stride, and he fired low and hard beyond [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simon-unai/Ao9Vw3hi/"]Unai Simon[/a].[/p][embed guid="783ca591-4211-4bd0-a02b-a9a15d449f03" url="https://x.com/England/status/2103934041112072324" social-type="twitter" /][p]Just a few minutes later, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a]'s header from a lofted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-reilly-nico/xOrYaNWc/"]Nico O'Reilly[/a] cross went in off a small deflection from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucurella-marc/QTynbZd3/"]Marc Cucurella[/a].[/p][p]Kane had the chance to extend the lead early in the second-half from the penalty spot.[/p][p][b]"Penalty given, and England could've given themselves a two-goal cushion,"[/b] Hackett said. [b]"[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodri/K0G8DB00/"]Rodri[/a], the player making the foul challenge, stepped on Bellingham and failed to make contact with the ball.[/b][/p][p][b]"Bellingham waited for the contact and did go to ground easily, but after VAR intervention, the Italian referee pointed to the spot. It was the correct decision and a positive application of VAR."[/b][/p][h2]Law applied correctly[/h2][p]Unfortunately for the hosts, the captain smashed his penalty against the crossbar, and that miss would ultimately prove costly.[/p][p][b]"Some fans were bemused by the referee awarding a free kick to restart play, but replays would show Kane's left foot slipping on the turf as he took the penalty, resulting in him kicking the ball twice; therefore, the official applied the law correctly,"[/b] Hackett enthused.[/p][image alt="England v Spain - Momentum shift" id="0208a4dc-83ee-4d6b-be41-adff362f4207" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="4fa4bf61-011b-4c5a-927b-e51a5e853431" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]Spanish substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baena-alex/bmeQTB92/"]Alex Baena[/a] turned the tide back in La Roja's favour with a brilliant equaliser on the hour, though O'Reilly won't want to watch the replays back.[/p][p][b]"Another gift from a huge mistake," [/b]Hackett rued. [b]"O'Reilly gave the ball away deep in his own half after a terrible error. Baena finished brilliantly. The defender soon received a yellow card, rightly so, for committing a reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal."[/b][/p][h2]A good performance[/h2][p]Baena then set up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oyarzabal-mikel/dQ1P695O/"]Mikel Oyarzabal[/a] to score a late winner in what turned out to be a thrilling encounter.[/p][p][b]"The referee delivered a good performance, with minimum interference, allowing the game to flow,"[/b] Hackett concluded.[/p][p][b]"Bellingham's challenge on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] teammate Marc Cucurella saw the England man go into the book late on. Another correct decision from Massa, who can be very happy with his showing."[/b][/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]