England’s victory over Spain sets the benchmark – Kieran Trippier

The hosts rallied after the break as substitute Paco Alcacer headed home before Sergio Ramos grabbed another deep into stoppage time.

England’s first-half display was full of energy, pace and attacking prowess and, while things changed after the interval, the Three Lions showed their guile to prevent a comeback from Spain.

Trippier came into the side having been a substitute for the goalless draw in Croatia on Friday and the Tottenham full-back believes the manner of England’s win now sets the benchmark.

“We want to beat the big teams,” he said.

“In the past few games we have had draws and not scored but I think last night we showed we can beat the top teams and defend well against the top teams.

“It was a statement last night and hopefully in the future we can put performances in like this as well.

“We want to win every game and play like that in every game. We know how well we can play as a team and last night in the first half we showed that.

“It is something to build on, we have a lot of confidence going into the next games. We just have to keep working on our formation in training and hopefully on matchdays we can put out the performances.”

Trippier added that the performance was equal to anything he achieved with England at the World Cup, where Southgate’s men reached the semi-final before losing to Croatia.

“I thought, all round it was a perfect performance,” he said.

“It is certainly up there for me personally in my career and I know for all the other lads. Spain haven’t lost in over 10 years in a competitive game (at home) so it just shows what we can do,
the attacking threat we’ve got.

“We learned a lot as a group and individuals at the World Cup. The manager has changed the formation and I think it releases the forwards more to press.”

The sense that Southgate is continuing to develop something special is only heightened by the age of the players he is working with.

At 28, Trippier was the elder statesman of the side in Spain, which had an average age of just over 23.

“I read something before – it makes me feel so old,” Trippier joked.

“I am three years older than someone else who’s 25. I can’t believe it. We have got a young team but there is so much quality.

“It’s good to come to places like this for the young lads to get the experience and obviously for me as well.

“You want to play against the best and we want to be the number one team. It was a great night and we move forward now.”

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