“absolutely damning” — Sam Allardyce’s verdict resurfaces after England’s 3–2 defeat to Spain
England’s dramatic 3–2 defeat to Spain at Wembley has once again put the spotlight on the performances, selection decisions and expectations surrounding Thomas Tuchel’s side. The Three Lions produced an entertaining contest and twice found themselves ahead, but Spain ultimately turned the game around to leave Wembley with all three points.
In the aftermath of the result, an earlier comment from former England manager Sam Allardyce has attracted renewed attention, particularly because it involved Marcus Rashford.
Allardyce recently questioned Rashford’s position at Manchester United, delivering a blunt assessment that has quickly become one of the talking points surrounding the forward. His words were particularly striking because Rashford had returned to the Manchester United squad following loan spells away from Old Trafford.
“Rashford shouldn’t be there,” Allardyce said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, while discussing the player’s situation and Manchester United’s decision-making.
The timing of the debate has made the comment even more interesting for football supporters following England.
However, there is an important detail to remember. Rashford was originally selected by Tuchel for England’s international squad but subsequently withdrew because of injury. That meant he was not involved when England faced Spain at Wembley.
Despite his absence, the conversation surrounding the forward has continued.
England’s meeting with Spain was expected to be one of the most demanding tests of Tuchel’s tenure. Spain arrived with an impressive reputation, and the match quickly developed into a high-quality contest between two sides with plenty of attacking talent.
Spain struck first when Lamine Yamal put the visitors ahead after just two minutes.
England, however, showed character.
Anthony Gordon brought the hosts level in the 36th minute after Jude Bellingham produced the pass that opened the Spanish defence. Just four minutes later, Harry Kane completed England’s comeback by putting the Three Lions 2–1 ahead.
At that stage, Wembley was believing again.
England had gone behind early, responded strongly and entered the interval with the advantage. But Spain demonstrated why they remain one of international football’s strongest teams.
The second half changed the momentum.
England were awarded a penalty after Bellingham was brought down inside the area, presenting Kane with an opportunity to extend the lead. The England captain, however, struck the crossbar.
That moment proved significant.
Instead of England moving 3–1 ahead, Spain remained within touching distance. Alex Baena subsequently equalised in the 60th minute before Mikel Oyarzabal completed the turnaround in the 74th minute.
The final whistle confirmed a 3–2 victory for Spain.
For England, it was a frustrating evening.
The team had shown enough attacking quality to score twice against Spain, but the result also demonstrated how quickly a match can change when playing against elite opposition.
And that is where the wider conversation around England’s attacking options becomes interesting.
Rashford’s absence was noticeable because he remains a player with considerable international experience. But his withdrawal meant that other players had an opportunity to impress.
Gordon took that opportunity by scoring England’s first goal, while Kane also found the net.
Rashford therefore cannot be blamed for England’s defeat. He was not on the pitch, and Allardyce’s original comments were not made about England’s performance against Spain.
Instead, the Spain result has simply provided another backdrop for discussions about England’s attacking options and the players Tuchel may rely upon going forward.
That distinction is important.
Allardyce’s comments were specifically about Rashford’s club situation. According to reports, the former Premier League manager questioned why Manchester United retained the forward after his loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona. He also pointed towards the club’s transfer decisions as part of his reasoning.
But football is rarely that simple.
Rashford’s current situation cannot be judged solely on goals or assists.
Interestingly, despite his lack of goal contributions for Manchester United at the beginning of the campaign, statistics cited in the discussion showed that Rashford had created 13 chances from open play in the opening five Premier League gameweeks — more than any other player in the league at that stage.
That statistic provides another side to the story.
It suggests that while Rashford’s final product had been questioned, his involvement in creating opportunities remained significant.
This is why Allardyce’s statement has generated debate rather than simply ending the discussion.
Some supporters may look at Rashford’s lack of goals and assists and understand the criticism. Others may point to his chance creation and argue that the player has still been contributing in areas that do not always appear on the scoreboard.
And then there is the England factor.
Rashford has spent years being part of conversations surrounding the national team. His pace, ability to play across the frontline and experience at major tournaments have made him a familiar name whenever England’s attacking options are discussed.
But international football is constantly changing.
Young players emerge. Established players go through different periods of form. Managers change systems. Injuries alter selections.
Tuchel therefore has plenty of decisions to make as England continue their campaign.
The Spain defeat will also provide plenty for the England manager to analyse.
His team showed enough quality to take a lead against Spain, but they could not protect it. Kane’s missed penalty was another major moment, although reducing the entire result to one missed opportunity would overlook the broader match.
Spain created problems after the interval and eventually found the winning goal through Oyarzabal.
For England supporters, the encouraging part was the attacking response after conceding so early.
Going behind after only two minutes against a team of Spain’s quality could easily have caused England to lose control of the match.
Instead, Gordon and Kane put England ahead.
The disappointing part was what happened after the break.
Spain regained control and scored twice, while England were unable to find another response.
That combination of positives and negatives is likely to dominate discussions around the team.
And somewhere within those discussions, Allardyce’s words about Rashford have resurfaced.
“Absolutely damning” is certainly a strong way of describing the reaction some supporters have had to the quote, but the actual context matters.
Allardyce was not reacting to England’s 3–2 defeat to Spain.
He made his comments about Rashford’s Manchester United situation before the international match.
Rashford then withdrew from England’s squad because of injury, meaning he could not influence the result at Wembley.
That makes the story more about timing than direct causation.
England lost to Spain, Rashford was absent, and an earlier Allardyce verdict suddenly became relevant again because supporters were discussing the national team’s attacking options and the form of England players.
For Rashford himself, the challenge is straightforward: continue working on his fitness and form and allow his football to answer the questions.
At Manchester United, he will have another opportunity to demonstrate his value when available.
For Tuchel, the challenge is different.
He must determine which combination of attacking players gives England the best balance between creativity, pace, goals and defensive work.
The Spain match showed that England possess enough attacking quality to trouble one of the world’s strongest sides.
But it also showed that there are areas that need improvement if England are to consistently compete with the very best.
That is what makes the defeat so intriguing.
It was not a match where England were simply outclassed from beginning to end.
They scored twice.
They led.
They had a penalty opportunity.
Yet Spain still found a way to win.
The result therefore raises questions without providing simple answers.
And while Rashford was not involved, his name has inevitably entered the conversation because of Allardyce’s recent assessment.
Football fans will now watch closely to see how Rashford responds when he returns to action.
Will he produce the goals and assists that have been demanded of him?
Will his chance creation continue to stand out?
Can he force his way back into Tuchel’s plans once he is fit?
Those questions will be answered on the pitch rather than through headlines.
For now, England must take the lessons from the 3–2 defeat and move forward.
Spain demonstrated their quality at Wembley, while England showed enough to suggest that the gap between the two sides is not necessarily as simple as the final scoreline suggests.
But the result still leaves Tuchel with plenty to consider.
And as for Allardyce’s “Rashford shouldn’t be there” verdict, it remains one of the more eye-catching comments surrounding the England conversation — even if Rashford himself had no part in Saturday night’s defeat.
The debate, as always in football, will continue.
And ultimately, the loudest response will come from what happens on the pitch.