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Adam Lallana’s cameo lights up Wembley until Spain punish England | Barney Ronay

It looked all set for Gareth Southgate’s coronation with Liverpool’s talisman the jewel in the crown. But then it all went wrongPulp the souvenir first editions! Re-cork the Prosecco. Reassume the sober Southgate-era frown. Welcome instead to the almost-dawning of the age of Gareth. On a mild, oddly boisterous night England and their temp-to-perm manager came close to pulling off a genuinely startling result at Wembley, leading Spain 2-0 before two late goals stilled the sense of a dawning coronation, with all the giddy uncertainties such a victory here might have brought.This was still an encouraging match in many ways, if only for the simple pleasure of the occasion. With an hour gone, Mexican waves rolling around this great concrete...

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England masses cannot mask apathy and unloved international football | Owen Gibson

Most of the fans cramming the stadium for international friendlies and qualifiers are after a fairly cheap night out. The result matters rather less than it used toThey are among the hardest working men and women in football. Even before Spain arrive at Wembley on Tuesday night to provide the latest obstacle to the tottering baby steps of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager, those whose job it is to continue to fill Wembley began trumpeting their wares for March’s home qualifier against Lithuania.No matter how big the humiliation or how small the pool of English talent, the masses keep trudging up Olympic Way for the friendlies and qualifying ties that keep the FA’s tills ringing and have helped contribute...

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