England took advantage of those reprieves to somehow be ahead by the break, through star performer Anthony Gordon’s composed finish and Harry Kane’s deflected header.
Kane’s penalty miss just after the break was a turning point, hitting the bar after slipping and touching the ball twice, before England once again paid the price for errors.
Nico O’Reilly coughed up possession in the build-up to Alex Baena’s equaliser before another substitute in Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in the Euro 2024 final against England in Berlin, settled matters after 74 minutes.
If it was a bad night for Manchester City defensive duo Guehi and O’Reilly, it was not much better for Jarell Quansah, who was given the nod ahead of the recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was uncertain throughout and does not look a natural right-back – perhaps because he is not a natural right-back.
Of course, it could have been different had Kane scored his penalty. He did not and it was not.
Kane said: “On another day we could have won.” This was not another day and England did not win.
England’s bolder approach after a shaky opening 25 minutes offered up the prospect of a landmark victory, but shambolic defending saw Guehi and O’Reilly present gifts Spain were happy to accept.
As against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, England led by a Gordon goal and lost, but at least here they went down swinging and not by going into cowering retreat.
It was a small mercy appreciated by the home support, but the gulf in class when it mattered was still evident as Spain’s smooth, unhurried style cut a sharp contrast to England’s often frantic efforts.
Tuchel’s defence looked horribly vulnerable and easy to slice through, although keeper Trafford – given two games before first-choice Jordan Pickford returns – was blameless and will have created a good impression as he tries to create greater competition in that department.
They have now shipped 13 goals in their last six matches in all competitions, after conceding only seven in their first 17 games under Tuchel.
Ironically, it was two players now plying their trade in Spain, Gordon at Barcelona and Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, who were England’s standout performers.
Gordon was in electrifying form, while Bellingham was relentless in driving England forward, even in a losing cause.
As for the chaos, Tuchel begged to differ.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m not sure there was a lot of chaos. We had an incredible amount of high-ball recoveries in the opponent’s half. I think 15 more than Spain. Overall, I think 15 in total in the first half. That only goes against a team like Spain if we play man to man, so we were very brave.”