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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wolverine GTR" data-source="post: 20918025" data-attributes="member: 158020"><img src="/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/default/cool.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:" data-shortname=":cool:" />Isco & Aspas paper over cracks as Spain miss Iniesta, Pique & Ramos <img src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL_INTERNATIONAL/44/34/hd-pepe-reina-spain-jamie-vardy-england_19janwyz4lykk11lle5pko631h.jpg?t=1781695376&w=620&h=430" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Spain still have not been beaten under Julen Lopetegui. The 2010 World Cup winners and 2012 European champions came from two goals down to rescue a draw at Wembley on Tuesday but, for so long, this team - previously extraordinary - were made to look decidedly ordinary. Lopetegui's first five fixtures brought four wins and a draw - that away to Italy after La Roja had dominated for almost the entire match. But there was little evidence of such quality here: without Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, David de Gea and Jordi Alba, Spain's second string were also second best. Pepe Reina clumsily conceded the penalty which allowed England to take the lead, Adam Lallana blasting home from the spot after the goalkeeper had upended Jamie Vardy. It begged the question as to why Lopetegui, who was a goalkeeper himself, is persisting with the 34-year-old Napoli shot-stopper instead of picking the exciting Sergio Rico of Sevilla. Spain's three-man defence did not work either and Lopetegui reverted to a more orthodox four-man back line before half an hour had been played. With Pique and Ramos both on the way back from injury, Inigo Martinez and Nacho started. But the Real Sociedad defender looked slow and was given a torrid time by the pace of Vardy, while the Madrid man also struggled. Vardy, who could have been sent off for a horrific tackle on Cesar Azpilicueta in the first half, found space eary in the second half to head home from close range and give England a 2-0 lead that few had expected to see. After the penalty conceded away to Italy and the spot-kick earlier on in this match, it was the first goal in open play Spain had let in since Lopetegui's arrival. And it also looked like bringing up a maiden defeat for the Basque coach. But while England were weakened by their substitutions later in the game, Spain strengthened their hand by bringing on Koke, Ander Herrera, Iago Aspas and Isco. it is indicative of the quality available to Lopetegui that he can call on such talent from the bench - even when others are sidelined. And ultimately it was good enough to turn the game on its head. Aspas, on his Spain debut, raced away and curled in a lovely effort off the post to give Lopetegui's side some hope of a draw. Still it looked like England would hold on but, deep into added time, Isco poked the ball through the legs of Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton from a tight angle to dampen the party mood at Wembley. It is fair to say that Spain will not start too many games with this team, with Reina rewarded for his loyalty and both Martinez and Nacho chosen due to the absences of Pique and Ramos. With Iniesta to return in a few weeks as well, there need not be too much drama. Nevertheless, Lopetegui will want to see some improvement after the poorest period of football in his tenure so far.</blockquote>

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