Kieran Trippier believes England’s win against Spain on Monday night was a statement and should set the standard moving forward.
Gareth Southgate’s side stunned Spain in a 3-2 Nations League victory that will live long in the memory.
Raheem Sterling ended his 1,102-day wait for an international goal in style as he opened the scoring in Seville before netting again once Marcus Rashford had doubled the advantage.
11 – England's first goal against Spain last night (scored by Raheem Sterling) ended a 17-pass move that involved all 11 of England's players. Outsmart. pic.twitter.com/G0ZmbPIQUy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 16, 2018
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.
That was a huge performance and a memorable night @England 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/qhxzIiBW3M
— Kieran Trippier (@trippier2) October 15, 2018
“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.
🏴 England's most memorable victory since EURO '96?#NationsLeague @England pic.twitter.com/DEdjI3U0N9
— UEFA Nations League (@UEFAEURO) October 15, 2018
“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.
That was the best #ThreeLions performance since _____________https://t.co/pG5chvY03r
— England (@England) October 15, 2018
“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.
Great win tonight away against a top team… thanks for all the support kept us going till the very end 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/kmLV4OcgAB
— Joe Gomez (@J_Gomez97) October 15, 2018
“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.”
