James Trafford adds to Leeds United's feel-good factor but England still looking to turn tide
To the lots of things pepping up Leeds United, can we now add having England's No 1?
Not that the rest of the country cares about that – they just want to feel better about their team after a World Cup which was officially their best since That One, yet still felt like a bit of a let-down.
Thomas Tuchel could really have done with a nice, easy home win to start the Nations League campaign, but against world and European champions unbeaten in 38 games, it was always going to be a tall order.
Spain won 3-2, adding to the sense the tide is going against Tuchel and England just now. Leeds have no such concerns.
They are on a roll in 2026, and those on the journey are having a whale of a time. Any bumps along the way are only adding to the thrill.
By picking James Trafford maybe England can tap into a bit of that.
You would not have known it from his measured demeanour in the post-match mixed zone, but Trafford’s selection should add to the positivity at Elland Road.
Like ten of England's first post-World Cup XI, he was in the squad for North America but he and Kobbie Mainoo were the only players not to make it onto the pitch.
Back then, Trafford was Manchester City's back-up goalkeeper, although when it was put to him he had a bad 2025-26, his reply is instant: "two trophies".
Now he is Britain's most expensive goalkeeper at a club on the up, and it sits well on him.
For now at least, Tuchel seems to want a Clemence/Shilton-style fudge (younger readers, ask your granddad), with Trafford playing against Spain and in Czechia on Tuesday, Jordan Pickford doing the other two.
To do it that way around and pick Trafford for the first and most challenging game felt like a signal.
Is Pickford, on trial as the scapegoat for another major tournament of dashed dreams?
In keeping with the big story of the footballing weekend, a verdict has not yet been reached, but you can feel which way the wind is blowing on the back of your neck.
Trafford conceded three goals in only his second start – something Pickford has only done twice (both in 2019) – but none left you questioning if Tuchel had boobed by dropping a goalkeeper outstanding across 91 caps and instrumental in the Three Lions' longest period of global competitiveness. He was last season's best Premier League goalkeeper and although not perfect in America, he was far from awful.
But judging by England 6, France 4 and now England 2, Spain 3, Tuchel wants something more in keeping with Kevin Keegan, the late Doncastrian honoured before kick-off from his team.
He appears to want to play put more from the back, which Trafford is ideal for Just a shame, as the John Stonesless back four in front of him demonstrated, about the rest.
Spain are known for the tiki-taka Tuchel is trying to tap more into, but this team love a press too.
Lamine Yamal pounced to score when Marc Guehi dwelt on the ball in the second minute. Nico O'Reilly gave the ball away for the goal which undid England's hard work in going 2-1 up. If all is coming up roses for Leeds, it was weekend of manure for Manchester City players.
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Elliot Anderson dodged bullets when they gave the ball away deep, only for Spain to fire blanks.
It has been impossible to win World Cups this way since the 1950s but after being battered for over-caution, Tuchel might reasonably ask "What do you English want?"
Only the moon on a stick and another star over the badge, thanks.
Trafford calmly passed the ball in front of his goalline when tested that way for the first time ten minutes in, and the only time his feet let him down was a spell of a couple of minutes when he miscontrolled a pass but quickly recovered, then picked out Yamal of all people.
The quality of Spain's goals left him no chance and he made two big saves at 1-0 stretching out his left foot to Ferran Torres and – he was keen to let people know later – tipping Dani Olmo’s shot around a post despite the referee awarding a goalkick. He also closed the angle in a one-on-one Torres missed.
There were big positives at the other end.
Anthony Gordon's 36th-minute goal was a bit out of the blue but the way he exchanged passes with fellow La Liga player Jude Bellingham and calmly finished was classy.
Harry Kane curled a shot wide shortly afterwards, then headed an O'Reilly cross in off Marc Cucurella.
A third goal after half-time would have been interesting but when referee Davide Massa change his mind about a Rodri foul on Bellingham, the captain smacked his penalty against the crossbar.
Alex Baena equalised, then fellow substitute Mikel Oyarzabal dinked the final flourish to a flowing move.
There was good and bad for England, and for Leeds, who also had the fillip of Dominic Calvert-Lewin winning an uneventful 13th cap from the bench.
But one is glass half-full right now, the other half-empty.
England: Trafford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi (Branthwaite 89), O'Reilly; Anderson, Lewis-Skelly (Garner 70); Saka (Gibbs-White 82), Bellingham, Gordon (Rogers 70); Kane (Calvert-Lewin 82).
Unused substitutes: Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Scott, Chalobah, Hall, Eze, Steele.
Spain: Simon; García, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz (Pedri 70); Yamal, Olmo (Merino 82), Williams (Baena 54); Torres (Oyarzabal 54).
Unused substitutes: Raya, Huijsen, Grimaldo, Lopez, Pino, Pubill, Martínez, Zubimendi.
Referee: D Massa (Italy).