Harry Kane missed a penalty on another difficult day for Thomas Tuchel

Credit : David Klein/Reuters

There had been so much talk – first raised by Thomas Tuchel after the shocking World Cup exit to Argentina – about England’s DNA . About whether they could keep the ball, pass the ball, control the ball, the way Spain do.

The world and European champions were England’s first opponents – after the World Cup – in this Nations League campaign and came away from Wembley with a deserved win. They are now 39 games unbeaten with substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal against England in the final of the last European Championship, doing so again.

That may have been no surprise, even if the inevitable “olés” after Spain’s third goal will have hurt. But the nature of it? For the England manager this was another shocker. Not in the way his team went about the task. They were positive, fun, attacking.…