Wembley brought together eight of Barcelona’s 17 internationals on duty around the world, and Spain’s 3-2 win over England carried both encouragement and concern for the Catalan club. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring, Anthony Gordon answered for England, and Eric Garcia was withdrawn from the planned starting side after hurting his left knee in the warm-up.
The news from the club
Yamal’s goal came after the Rocafonda winger took the ball from England’s last defender before finishing with composure. Gordon then levelled the match, ending the scoring drought that has followed him at Barcelona. His counter-attacking goal was set in motion by a backheel before he applied an accomplished finish.
Garcia had been named at right-back but felt discomfort in his left knee after a knock during the pre-match preparations. Barcelona and Spain chose not to take a risk, and examinations are scheduled to determine whether he must leave the national-team camp.
Rodri, despite conceding a penalty, was one of Spain’s leading performers and completed the match alongside Pau Cubarsi and Yamal. Dani Olmo was replaced in the 82nd minute, while Pedri entered in the 70th, the same minute Gordon left the field. Garcia and Fermin Lopez did not play.
Elsewhere, Dominik Livakovic played the full 90 minutes and gave Croatia a steady presence in their 2-1 victory away to Czechia. Raphinha had completed Brazil’s match in Australia on Friday, assisting Rayan’s 95th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. He was deployed behind the forward rather than as Barcelona’s central attacker.
Jules Kounde also completed 90 minutes at right-back as Zinedine Zidane’s new-look France won 1-0 in Turkey. At under-21 level, Marc Bernal played the whole of Spain’s 2-1 defeat in Finland, while Xavi Espart started, received a yellow card and came off at half-time.
Hamza Abdelkarim featured for 28 minutes as Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola. With Mohamed Salah released from the trip to South Sudan because of the artificial surface, Abdelkarim could be in line to start on Tuesday.
Across the international window
Karim Adeyemi began Germany’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday and played 80 minutes as a second striker. Joao Cancelo was on the pitch throughout Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales, also operating at right-back.
Jesse Bisiwu’s involvement was limited to five minutes for Belgium Under-21s in their 1-0 loss in Belarus, while Barcelona continue to monitor Garcia’s knee before the club’s internationals begin returning to the city.
