Brazil's narrow victory is more worrying than Argentina's defeat

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Brazil snatched it right at the end, centre-back Miranda shrugging off Nicolas Otamendi at a corner to glance in the 1-0 winner over Argentina ahead of keeper Sergio Romero. But Brazil boss Tite may well come away from Saudi Arabia a slightly more worried man than Lionel Scaloni, his Argentine counterpart.

The teams are at vastly different stages of development.

Scaloni is a caretaker coach, in temporary charge. The chaos of Argentina's World Cup campaign has forced the FA to think long and hard about the way forward, and they are taking their time before making a definitive choice. In the meantime, Scaloni is renewing the squad. His starting lineup included just four players who went to Russia. And despite the limited training time, in the four games played under Scaloni, with no Lionel Messi and some of the other big names, Argentina have at least looked competent -- a word that seldom applied to their displays under Jorge Sampaoli. Brazil's stoppage-time winner was the first Scaloni's Argentina have conceded.

The scorer, Miranda, was one of a Brazil starting lineup that included 10 of the World Cup squad -- the exception being Barcelona midfielder Arthur. Brazil are at full strength because they have much more short-term urgency. They host next June's Copa America, which kick-starts the next cycle of competitive matches in South America. Many will see this as essentially a warm-up tournament, preparing a side for the next set of World Cup qualifiers. Brazil, though, have to win -- as hosts, as a consequence of their poor recent tournament record and in order to keep Tite in a job.

And he will make the trip back from the Middle East with some cause for concern. His side did not play well, either against Argentina or in the 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Friday. Admittedly, the conditions did not help. It was hot and humid. The game against Argentina was constantly interrupted, the action in Jeddah juddering to a halt with frequent fouls and a drinks break in either half.

There were flashes from Neymar; one glorious, long diagonal pass came close to slipping Arthur behind the defensive line. But the team looked even more dependent than usual on his individual flashes of brilliance; Coutinho was off form, Neymar was unable to establish a relationship with centre-forward Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus was not a success wide on the right -- where the introduction of Richarlison gave the team more thrust.

Argentina, meanwhile, can be extremely happy with the performance at right-back of Renzo Saravia, who came through the test of marking Neymar with considerable credit. Up front, both Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi remain enigmas at international level, yet to produce anything like their best. Striker Lautaro Martinez, who scored a fine debut goal against Iraq on Thursday, produced some touches of class when he came off the bench, and looks like an important part of Argentina's future.

But the national team's big decisions -- the who and the how -- will have to wait until the new coach is named. Until then, Argentina are kicking the can down the road.

Raheem Sterling ends drought, England hand Spain first competitive home defeat since 2003

SEVILLE, Spain -- Three thoughts on England's 3-2 win over Spain at Estadio Benito Villamarin in Group 4, League A of the UEFA Nations League.

1. New-look England build on World Cup momentum

Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane blew Spain away in 38 first-half minutes as England became the first country to beat Spain in Spain in a competitive game in 15 years, a run stretching 38 games.

Sterling ended a three-year wait for an international goal, scoring twice either side of a Rashford effort as he silenced those who had suggested he should be dropped by manager Gareth Southgate.

There was no goal for Kane, but his role in all three of his country's goals was key. Spain struggled to deal with his presence as the focal point of a side which has been re-modelled by Southgate since the World Cup. With three in attack, and an average age of 23, England bypassed the midfield when they could, and Luis Enrique's side had no answer in the first half.

Spain did respond after the break, pulling goals back through the red-hot Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos, but the second -- deep in stoppage time -- was too late. They remain top of the group with six points and the most likely to qualify for the final four of the UEFA Nations League next summer, but they now need to find a result in Croatia, with England poised just two points back.

All this after the home side had started well. England looked fragile at the back. A Thiago effort was deflected wide, Jordan Pickford made a fine block to keep out Marcos Alonso, and Marco Asensio failed to capitalise on a Kieran Trippier mistake.

Then England struck. Pickford, under pressure, picked out Kane, who fed Rashford on the right. Rashford threaded the ball through to Sterling. This time it was Spain's defence that was all over the place, as Ramos wasn't even in the picture when Sterling lashed expertly into the top corner.

It was a tactic which England would continue to have success with. Pickford sent another long ball to Kane in the 30th minute. The Tottenham striker did brilliantly, holding the ball up before brilliantly playing in Rashford.

The 3,000 travelling England fans could barely believe what they were seeing from their vantage point in the top corner, but there was more to come. Eight minutes later, Ross Barkley found Kane at the far post with a deft pass. Kane unselfishly squared for Sterling to score his second as Spain conceded three in a competitive game on home soil for the first time.

Luis Enrique threw on Alcacer, the striker with the golden touch at the moment. Within 90 seconds he headed in from a corner. He now has 10 goals in six games for club and country, with five of those appearances off the bench.

Tails up and the Benito Villamarin roaring, Spain pressed. Pickford was caught out by Rodrigo and the goalkeeper was lucky not to give a penalty away when he pulled the Valencia man's shirt before sliding to clear. Led by captain Ramos, they furiously called for a spot kick, but Pickford was let off the hook.

Alonso headed against the bar in stoppage time, and Ramos then finally found Spain's second only for the final whistle to sound as the ball hit the net.

2. Sterling ends his drought with showcase in Spain

The three-year anniversary of Sterling's last goal for England passed last week. It was on Oct. 9 of 2015 -- 1,102 days ago -- that he last found the net for his country in a win over Estonia at Wembley. Since then, 27 appearances but no goals.

Going into Monday's game in Seville, his England record read: 45 caps, two goals. Inside 38 minutes he'd doubled his goal tally, justifying Southgate's faith and persistence with him.

That this performance came in Spain is not insignificant, either. Sources confirmed to ESPN FC this week that Real Madrid are monitoring the Manchester City player. These sort of performances on the big occasions, for club and country, will only increase his suitability for the front cover of the Madrid newspapers.

Sterling did not act alone, though. He would have been grateful to Kane, who bullied Spain's defence at times and was unlucky not to get a goal for himself. The Tottenham striker did grab two assists and even played a central role in the build-up to England's other.

Rashford, the third member of England's new-look front three, also played his part, grabbing a goal, causing problems with his pace and working hard in defence late on.