MX23RW : Saturday, October 20 00:05:07
Oct 15, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
Spain
2-3
England
Alcacer (58'), Ramos (90')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Sterling (16', 38'), Rashford (30')
Timeline
(Tripping) E. Dier        12'
(M. Rashford) R. Sterling        16'
(H. Kane) M. Rashford        30'
(H. Kane) R. Sterling        38'
56'     A. Paco (Saul)
57'     D. Ceballos (I. Aspas)
58'     A. Paco (M. Asensio)
65'     S. Ramos (Unsportsmanlike cond)
(Unsportsmanlike cond) H. Winks        65'
(Tripping) H. Maguire        71'
72'     A. Morata (Rodrigo)
75'     Jonny (Tripping)
(R. Barkley) K. Walker        75'
87'     D. Ceballos (Tripping)
(H. Winks) N. Chalobah        90'
90+8'     S. Ramos (D. Ceballos)
90+8'     Morata A. (Not on pitch, Unspor)

Harry Winks keeps things ticking over for England on memorable night in Seville

The Spurs midfielder did not catch the eye but was solid in the centre of the park.

Tottenham's Harry Winks was given an opportunity by England manager Gareth Southgate in Monday's Nations League victory over Spain in Seville. Here, Press Association Sport looks at how he performed.

Positioning

Winks (right) slotted comfortably into the team
Winks, right, slotted comfortably into the team (Nick Potts/PA)

Winks came into the side for Jordan Henderson and took up position in a three-man midfield with Eric Dier and Ross Barkley. He fitted comfortably into what was a fluid system. While Dier remained central, he and Barkley alternated which side of the field they operated in. Winks naturally gravitated towards the centre on numerous occasions but England did not lose their shape.

Passing

It was a game when the forwards, notably Raheem Sterling, commanded the headlines
It was a game when the forwards, notably Raheem Sterling, commanded the headlines (Nick Potts/PA)

With the players around him excelling, Winks found himself on the periphery of a lot of the main action. He did not get many opportunities to get on the ball and to try to pull the strings but he did not give the ball away cheaply.

Attitude

England manager Gareth Southgate (right) will have been impressed by Winks' workrate
England manager Gareth Southgate, right, will have been impressed by Winks' workrate (Nick Potts/PA)

There was no doubting the Spurs midfielder's determination. Winks got up and down the field a lot and was always quick to try to close down opponents. He was wrong-footed at one point by the skill of Thiago Alcantara but he did not shirk defensive responsibilities. He showed his emotional involvement in the game when he attempted to push away protesting Spain players from the referee after the hosts were denied a penalty.

Overall impression

It was an opportunity for Winks (right), pictured before the match, to soak up the atmosphere of a big international occasion
It was an opportunity for Winks, right, pictured before the match, to soak up the atmosphere of a big international occasion (Nick Potts/PA)

Winks had big boots to fill in those of Henderson and parts of the game did seem to pass him by. But it would have been too much to expect him to take control in what was only his second appearance for his country and he certainly did not look out of place. With England unexpectedly dominant against one of the world's best sides, it proved an ideal game for him to be eased into the action. He should take much from the experience.

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England manager Gareth Southgate watches on during his side's international friendly with Switzerland on September 11, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City86202131820
2Chelsea86201851320
3Liverpool86201531220
4Arsenal86021910918
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs8602157818
6Bournemouth85121612416
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves843196315
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd84131314-113
9Watford84131112-113
10Leicester CityLeicester84041412212
11Everton83321312112
12Burnley82241012-28
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton8224913-48
14Crystal Palace821559-47
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham8215813-57
16Southampton8125614-85
17Fulham8125921-125
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield8035417-133
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle8026613-72
20Cardiff CityCardiff8026417-132

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