England 1-0 Spain: Frank Lampard scores only goal as world and European champions are kept out at Wembley
Fabio Capello's men showed discipline to hold out under constant pressure, with the stand-in skipper's poached finish just after the break enough to secure a friendly victory
Stand-in captain Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game just after halftime to deliver England a famous 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley, despite the hosts having to defend doggedly for the majority of the friendly.
In an experimental line-up, England fielded Phil Jones in midfield alongside Scott Parker, while Phil Jagielka overcame an injury doubt to partner Joleon Lescott in the centre of defense. Spain, meanwhile, deployed the in-form David Silva in attack alongside David Villa and Andres Iniesta.
England immediately set up simply to block the visitors out, defending deep and doing a good job of restricting space for the Spanish in and around the penalty area. Genuine chances were few and far between throughout the opening period.
The clearest opportunity fell to Sergio Busquets with just over five minutes left before the break. With Spain up for a corner, the ball came to Xabi Alonso in a deep position, who lofted it back into the area. The Barcelona midfielder attempted a flick to help the ball on but he only succeeded in lifting it over the bar.
After the resumption, England suddenly found itself a goal to the good. James Milner drew a foul on the hosts’ left flank and stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. His in-swinging delivery was met by Darren Bent, who rose highest and headed towards goal. His effort eluded halftime substitute Pepe Reina and came off the bar to find Lampard all alone with nothing to do but nod it home from point-blank range.
Villa then had a flash of a chance to strike straight back, freed down the inside-right channel and having rounded Joe Hart, but diligent defensive positioning by the keeper and Jagielka forced him too wide to get closer than the side netting.
Brought on for his international debut, 20-year-old Jack Rodwell found himself bearing down on goal thanks to some smart interplay between him and fellow substitute Danny Welbeck. However, a poor first touch let the Everton man down. Alba, the covering defender, nearly poked the interception past his own goalkeeper, with Reina having to block it uncomfortably, but the danger was past.
Spain came close to an equalizer with 15 minutes left when Glen Johnson’s poor header in the box gave Villa a sniff of goal. Spain’s record scorer reacted instantly to chest it down and volley past Hart, but the ball smacked off the post and away.
The visitors, growing desperate as the game entered its final stages, were guilty of trying one too many passes when Cesc Fabregas slipped inside the area and looked fruitlessly for a teammate in the center rather than shooting himself.
Fabregas then forced a good save out of Hart before fluffing his lines in the 88th minute. For the first time all match the England defense let him run between them and, with the goal at his mercy, the ex-Arsenal man dragged his shot wide.
It was a bad mistake that proved final for Spain's hopes of a comeback, and Fabio Capello's men celebrated joyously as the final whistle confirmed their triumph over the world champions.
Stand-in captain Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game just after halftime to deliver England a famous 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley, despite the hosts having to defend doggedly for the majority of the friendly.
In an experimental line-up, England fielded Phil Jones in midfield alongside Scott Parker, while Phil Jagielka overcame an injury doubt to partner Joleon Lescott in the centre of defense. Spain, meanwhile, deployed the in-form David Silva in attack alongside David Villa and Andres Iniesta.
England immediately set up simply to block the visitors out, defending deep and doing a good job of restricting space for the Spanish in and around the penalty area. Genuine chances were few and far between throughout the opening period.
The clearest opportunity fell to Sergio Busquets with just over five minutes left before the break. With Spain up for a corner, the ball came to Xabi Alonso in a deep position, who lofted it back into the area. The Barcelona midfielder attempted a flick to help the ball on but he only succeeded in lifting it over the bar.
After the resumption, England suddenly found itself a goal to the good. James Milner drew a foul on the hosts’ left flank and stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. His in-swinging delivery was met by Darren Bent, who rose highest and headed towards goal. His effort eluded halftime substitute Pepe Reina and came off the bar to find Lampard all alone with nothing to do but nod it home from point-blank range.
Villa then had a flash of a chance to strike straight back, freed down the inside-right channel and having rounded Joe Hart, but diligent defensive positioning by the keeper and Jagielka forced him too wide to get closer than the side netting.
Brought on for his international debut, 20-year-old Jack Rodwell found himself bearing down on goal thanks to some smart interplay between him and fellow substitute Danny Welbeck. However, a poor first touch let the Everton man down. Alba, the covering defender, nearly poked the interception past his own goalkeeper, with Reina having to block it uncomfortably, but the danger was past.
Spain came close to an equalizer with 15 minutes left when Glen Johnson’s poor header in the box gave Villa a sniff of goal. Spain’s record scorer reacted instantly to chest it down and volley past Hart, but the ball smacked off the post and away.
The visitors, growing desperate as the game entered its final stages, were guilty of trying one too many passes when Cesc Fabregas slipped inside the area and looked fruitlessly for a teammate in the center rather than shooting himself.
Fabregas then forced a good save out of Hart before fluffing his lines in the 88th minute. For the first time all match the England defense let him run between them and, with the goal at his mercy, the ex-Arsenal man dragged his shot wide.
It was a bad mistake that proved final for Spain's hopes of a comeback, and Fabio Capello's men celebrated joyously as the final whistle confirmed their triumph over the world champions.
Fabio Capello's men showed discipline to hold out under constant pressure, with the stand-in skipper's poached finish just after the break enough to secure a friendly victory
Stand-in captain Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game just after halftime to deliver England a famous 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley, despite the hosts having to defend doggedly for the majority of the friendly.
In an experimental line-up, England fielded Phil Jones in midfield alongside Scott Parker, while Phil Jagielka overcame an injury doubt to partner Joleon Lescott in the centre of defense. Spain, meanwhile, deployed the in-form David Silva in attack alongside David Villa and Andres Iniesta.
England immediately set up simply to block the visitors out, defending deep and doing a good job of restricting space for the Spanish in and around the penalty area. Genuine chances were few and far between throughout the opening period.
The clearest opportunity fell to Sergio Busquets with just over five minutes left before the break. With Spain up for a corner, the ball came to Xabi Alonso in a deep position, who lofted it back into the area. The Barcelona midfielder attempted a flick to help the ball on but he only succeeded in lifting it over the bar.
After the resumption, England suddenly found itself a goal to the good. James Milner drew a foul on the hosts’ left flank and stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. His in-swinging delivery was met by Darren Bent, who rose highest and headed towards goal. His effort eluded halftime substitute Pepe Reina and came off the bar to find Lampard all alone with nothing to do but nod it home from point-blank range.
Villa then had a flash of a chance to strike straight back, freed down the inside-right channel and having rounded Joe Hart, but diligent defensive positioning by the keeper and Jagielka forced him too wide to get closer than the side netting.
Brought on for his international debut, 20-year-old Jack Rodwell found himself bearing down on goal thanks to some smart interplay between him and fellow substitute Danny Welbeck. However, a poor first touch let the Everton man down. Alba, the covering defender, nearly poked the interception past his own goalkeeper, with Reina having to block it uncomfortably, but the danger was past.
Spain came close to an equalizer with 15 minutes left when Glen Johnson’s poor header in the box gave Villa a sniff of goal. Spain’s record scorer reacted instantly to chest it down and volley past Hart, but the ball smacked off the post and away.
The visitors, growing desperate as the game entered its final stages, were guilty of trying one too many passes when Cesc Fabregas slipped inside the area and looked fruitlessly for a teammate in the center rather than shooting himself.
Fabregas then forced a good save out of Hart before fluffing his lines in the 88th minute. For the first time all match the England defense let him run between them and, with the goal at his mercy, the ex-Arsenal man dragged his shot wide.
It was a bad mistake that proved final for Spain's hopes of a comeback, and Fabio Capello's men celebrated joyously as the final whistle confirmed their triumph over the world champions.
Stand-in captain Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game just after halftime to deliver England a famous 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley, despite the hosts having to defend doggedly for the majority of the friendly.
In an experimental line-up, England fielded Phil Jones in midfield alongside Scott Parker, while Phil Jagielka overcame an injury doubt to partner Joleon Lescott in the centre of defense. Spain, meanwhile, deployed the in-form David Silva in attack alongside David Villa and Andres Iniesta.
England immediately set up simply to block the visitors out, defending deep and doing a good job of restricting space for the Spanish in and around the penalty area. Genuine chances were few and far between throughout the opening period.
The clearest opportunity fell to Sergio Busquets with just over five minutes left before the break. With Spain up for a corner, the ball came to Xabi Alonso in a deep position, who lofted it back into the area. The Barcelona midfielder attempted a flick to help the ball on but he only succeeded in lifting it over the bar.
After the resumption, England suddenly found itself a goal to the good. James Milner drew a foul on the hosts’ left flank and stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. His in-swinging delivery was met by Darren Bent, who rose highest and headed towards goal. His effort eluded halftime substitute Pepe Reina and came off the bar to find Lampard all alone with nothing to do but nod it home from point-blank range.
Villa then had a flash of a chance to strike straight back, freed down the inside-right channel and having rounded Joe Hart, but diligent defensive positioning by the keeper and Jagielka forced him too wide to get closer than the side netting.
Brought on for his international debut, 20-year-old Jack Rodwell found himself bearing down on goal thanks to some smart interplay between him and fellow substitute Danny Welbeck. However, a poor first touch let the Everton man down. Alba, the covering defender, nearly poked the interception past his own goalkeeper, with Reina having to block it uncomfortably, but the danger was past.
Spain came close to an equalizer with 15 minutes left when Glen Johnson’s poor header in the box gave Villa a sniff of goal. Spain’s record scorer reacted instantly to chest it down and volley past Hart, but the ball smacked off the post and away.
The visitors, growing desperate as the game entered its final stages, were guilty of trying one too many passes when Cesc Fabregas slipped inside the area and looked fruitlessly for a teammate in the center rather than shooting himself.
Fabregas then forced a good save out of Hart before fluffing his lines in the 88th minute. For the first time all match the England defense let him run between them and, with the goal at his mercy, the ex-Arsenal man dragged his shot wide.
It was a bad mistake that proved final for Spain's hopes of a comeback, and Fabio Capello's men celebrated joyously as the final whistle confirmed their triumph over the world champions.
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