England under-20s lost 3-1 to Spain in Alicante in their opening match of the international window, with Vera Jones pulling one back and John Salomon monitoring lessons for Poland
England’s under-20s opened their international window in Alicante with a 3-1 defeat to Spain — a useful, if occasionally frustrating, workout as John Salomon’s group continue their preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.
From the first whistle Spain took control, turning early pressure into two first-half goals.
A low cross-shot was parried by goalkeeper Kaiya Jota only for Marisa to bundle the rebound over the line, and, ten minutes before the break, Arques bent a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Those strikes left England chasing for long spells and exposed weaknesses the hosts were happy to probe.
England did offer encouraging signs, particularly after the interval. The team showed intent down the wings, combining well in wide areas and creating patterns that unsettled Spain’s defence.
Substitute Celia — introduced after the restart — cut inside from the right and slotted a composed left-foot finish into the bottom corner, a strike that effectively sealed the outcome at 3-0 before England fought back.
The Young Lionesses refused to fold. In the 63rd minute Cecily Wellesley-Smith threaded a diagonal pass to Ria Bose, whose low cross found Vera Jones at the far post — Jones slid in and restored belief with a well-taken goal. Later Jones was hauled down in the box, a moment that prompted strong appeals for a penalty, but the referee let play continue.
Tactically Salomon’s side made several adjustments to lift the tempo. Fresh legs intensified the press and helped speed transitions, while a slightly deeper defensive block and tighter marking on second balls limited some of Spain’s forward momentum. Offensively the team mixed short, progressive build-up with diagonal switches to stretch the pitch; substitutions also injected more directness and created overloads, even if chances inside the box were often nervy.
Individual contributions were a mixed bag. Kaiya Jota produced a couple of sharp saves and kept England in the contest at key moments. The full-backs offered attacking width and helped the team recover territory when possession was lost, while the midfield worked hard to balance retention and forward thrust. Vera Jones’s goal underlined the value of timely substitutions and calm finishing under pressure.
The game also highlighted priorities to sharpen before Tuesday’s meeting with the Netherlands (3 March, 14:00 GMT): better organisation from set-pieces, quicker reactions to turnovers, more ruthless finishing in the final third, and clearer, more decisive roles for substitutes so they alter games without disrupting structure.
All told, the result stings, but the performance contained enough positives to build on. There were patches of control, creative moments out wide, and a spirited response after falling behind — useful material for Salomon and his coaches as they refine the side ahead of tougher tests to come.
