Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford score in win over Spain
Tuesday 16 October 2018 17:12, UK
Jamie Carragher compared England's 3-2 victory over Spain to their 5-1 win over Germany in 2001 and said they are now "playing like the world's top teams".
Carragher was part of the England side that came from behind to stun Germany in a World Cup qualifier in Munich.
He was in attendance in Seville on Monday to see Gareth Southgate's England side inflict a first competitive home defeat on Spain since 2003 in remarkable style.
Spain 2-3 England
England player ratings
Reflecting on the significance of the win, Carragher told Sky Sports: "I can only go back to when I was playing and the only thing that could match it was the 5-1 win in Germany.
"It's a fantastic result. This is a game they will never forget, whatever they do in their international careers."
England were ruthless in the first half against Spain as Raheem Sterling scored twice either side of a goal from Marcus Rashford.
Spain hit back after the break but England held on to record their first competitive victory since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in the summer.
Carragher added: "This a huge result for Gareth Southgate. The World Cup was great but privately we were saying 'they haven't really played anyone' and as soon as they got to Croatia they struggled and couldn't keep the ball. That's why tonight is a massive result for Gareth Southgate.
"How brave he was. As soon as the game started, Eric Dier, who was England's holding midfielder, was flying at Sergio Busquets to close him down. That tells you they are on the front foot and going for it.
"Watching England is like watching the top teams in the Premier League, you could never say that when I was playing, we always felt that the top teams in the Premier League would be too good for England. Maybe that's the case but they play like the top teams in the world.
"Spain still dominated possession but it was like a great away Champions League performance as you'd see from one of our top teams. They were devastating on the counter, very clinical in front of goal and held on at the end."
The win gives England a chance of finishing top of UEFA Nations League Group A4.
Former England international Jamie Redknapp agreed with Carragher's assessment of the match, saying: "It shows you the progress we are making under Gareth Southgate.
"I have always believed we have got good players in this country and at times we talk them down and say we can't do this and that, but tonight we have shown against very good opposition that we can.
"The front three in the first half were immense, they caused them so many problems, but Gareth might look at the second half when they had to dig in and it was as tough as it gets. It was a brilliant team performance. I thought England were magnificent."
Ex-England Women's defender Alex Scott added: "It will give these players and Gareth Southgate the belief. There are so many positives.
"It had everything. It had class in some of the goals but they also showed character in the second half when Spain were dominating and had the momentum, they held on and dug deep and found a way."
