England managed 36 penalty-area touches against Spain at Wembley but lacked clinical edge
Thomas Tuchel’s England side registered 36 touches inside Spain’s penalty area at Wembley on 28 September 2026, yet were taught a lesson in finishing and chance-taking.
England's activity inside the box was remarkable given Spain's recent defensive record: at the 2026 World Cup Spain allowed just 9.5 touches in their penalty area per 90 minutes. The combined efforts of Belgium, France and Argentina produced 38 touches in Spain's box across the final three rounds of that tournament, while since records began at the start of Euro 2016 the only higher in regular time was Germany's 45 in the Euro 2024 quarter-final (that game went to extra time). France recorded 42 box touches in normal time in the Nations League semi-final they lost 5-4 last year, leaving England second best in regular time from a sample of 133 matches.
The volume of England’s box activity did not translate into high-value chances. Germany generated 2.15 non-penalty expected goals in their example game, France 1.95 and England just 0.95. England averaged 5.1 box touches for each shot they had in the penalty area, or 5.8 when Harry Kane’s spot kick is excluded; by comparison, Tottenham’s average of 3.6 this season — the highest in the Premier League — was cited as being well below England’s level against Spain.
Space inside Spain’s area was compressed, which limited clear passing lanes and sightlines to goal. Bukayo Saka illustrated that difficulty: he had 10 touches in the box — two more than Argentina managed across 120 minutes of the World Cup final — but produced one shot from inside the penalty area, which he curled wide of the far post midway through the second half, was tackled twice trying to make things happen and was unable to control the ball on a couple of occasions.
Saka’s in-box passing also tended to move the ball away from goal: four of the five passes he made from within the penalty area went outside it. Anthony Gordon led England after Saka with five box touches; one of Gordon’s two in-box passes was a cutback that Unai Simón gathered and the other went backwards to the edge of the box. Jude Bellingham’s single pass in the area went astray and Kane did not attempt any; from the five substitutes Morgan Gibbs-White completed one pass in the Spain box in the 95th minute.
England’s goal contributions partly came from outside the penalty area: both of their assists and one of their goals originated from beyond the box. Spain’s own figures showed efficiency rather than volume — they had 15 box touches at Wembley, less than half their World Cup per-90 average of 32.5, but produced five shots worth at least 0.26 expected goals inside the box while England managed only one effort (plus the penalty) at that level.
The visitors’ highest-value chances were created by passes into the box or through balls; two through balls produced Opta-defined big chances at 1-0, and both were missed by Ferran Torres. To have 36 box touches against the team that World Football Elo Ratings considers to be the greatest international side of all time is an achievement that should not be readily dismissed.
Afterwards Anthony Gordon said there isn’t a gap between England and Spain, but the data suggests otherwise and Tuchel must figure out how to make his side as resolute as the world champions at the back and as rapier-like in attack.