England v Spain: Your verdict

After weeks of speculation, England faced their first test under new boss Sven Goran Eriksson, and it was a promising start for 'Sven's Stars'.

Nick Barmby, Emile Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu scored and Nigel Martyn saved a penalty in a 3-0 win at Villa Park. What did you make of the match?

A 3-0 win suggests a fairly comfortable game, and England were deserving of their win.

Despite several half-time substitutions the Three Lions kept up a fast-paced game.

Unsurprisingly the skillful Spaniard's created chances, but none that made it through a tidy English defence.

Give us your verdict on the match and tell us how you rated Eriksson on his first outing at England's helm?

What did you make of his team selection? Did he get it right on the night? Despite playing David James in goal in the first half, and Nigel Martyn in the second, he has assured David Seaman that he still has an international future. What do you think?

Are England, under Eriksson's coaching, within grasp of reaching the 2002 World Cup finals?

Email your views and tell us what you think. Or why not phone BBC Sport Online with your comments.

Call 0870 902 4225* to give your verdict on the game and have your chance to put your point across to a world-wide audience.

The best of the calls will be aired on BBC Sport Online's daily programme SOL Daily on Thursday 29 February at 1300 GMT.

Tune in hear your views.

Congratulations England. Best new tactic: The team did not go into a defensive shell after the first goal. Previously your sides felt a one goal lead was insurmountable. Here's hoping you will allow your new coach at least a one day honeymoon.
Billy-boy, canada

A short time ago it would have been considered a miracle if we could have beaten anyone by 3-0. It was wonderful to see an England side that was so full of confidence; they really did play good football. It was like a breath of fresh air. Why it's taken so long and why it's taken a foreign manager to get us their are questions that can be asked for ever. The main thing is that it appears to happening now and that's all that counts. Keep on doing what you're doing Sven. Please!
Terry Howells, Hong Kong (England)

Good start for the Swede, but my fear for England is this: If ever England are to face Sweden under this coach (Erikkson), what will be the overriding factor? Love of country or job? That may be a costly uncertainty for England when the chips are down. England need an English coach, not a foreigner.
Dee, USA

Best game I've seen England play in a long time! I thought England played great. The only flaw I could find was that we need a good right back who can play with Beckham. Beckham found himself alone on the right a lot- although he was becoming a lot more effective just before he was replaced. But the future certainly looks good!
RZ, Canada

The 3-0 win was just the start England needed

  Stephen, Thailand

Eriksson knows the job. He has proved to us all that things can change if right choices are made and are utilised accordingly. Things have really changed for England. It was marvellous to watch a team that has been together for less than a week play so well. Sven is obviously the man England have been waiting for.
Elvis Max Chimphonda, Malawi

What England have done tonight is brilliant, and it shows just how important good management is in football. We have always known that England has great footballers, and with the right support, the nation can produce the right results.
kojo Opoku, USA

Personally I was a little sceptical about the starting 11 and especially the 4-4-2 formation - it just didn't work under Keegan, but Sven Goran Eriksson, the coaching staff and the players seemed to make it work effectively. Okay it was only a friendly, but beating a team like Spain 3-0 is an excellent starting point. Now the nation (and the players) has got some confidence back in England national team, let's hope that they build on this performance in the coming world cup qualifiers.
Mike, UK

The 3-0 win against Spain was just the start England needed in the first match under Svens' management. Although the match was only a friendly, no-one can say that Spain are an easy team to beat.

Everyone in England talks about the quality of players hailing from Spain, Italy and France. And with this 3-0 victory, England showed them that they are not down and out of the race of becoming one of the top nations in football.
Dominic Lau, Hong Kong

A very competent and spirited team performance

  Stephen, Thailand

A solid performance but let's not forget that England have gone through a prolonged period of depressingly bad performances. Maybe that period is finally over, but let's not expect too much too fast. My real hopes for England are for the world cup in 2006.
Mark Parish, USA

Players are always going to respond to the buzz generated by a new manager, so the performance was not a surprise even if the result was. Eriksson's tactical know how can only be assessed in the context of a competitive and critical game not in a friendly.

However, credit goes to him for having the courage to cap players others considered average and for allowing young players the opportunity to grow. The future is certainly bright regardless of what happens in the forthcoming qualifying games.
John Okonkwo, USA

As far as Eriksson was concerned the result couldn't have gone any better. The Fleet Street hacks were lining up to have a go, still seething that their appointed man Venables was overlooked. Eriksson managed to mix the team up and still win 3-0.

Let's not get too euphoric though. Had this been a qualifier Spain would not have played the way they did. The Spanish just don't rate friendlies. Home attendence for such games would struggle to match Wimbledon's average home gate. England played a team that wanted to win, but were not overly upset about losing.

I think Sven has already begun to instill confidence into the squad, something that have been missing for a number of years.

  Steven Knibbs, UK

The real test comes not against Finland or Albania, but against Germany away. I just hope the papers give Eriksson the breathing space tonight's result deserves.
Joe Castle, England

I thought overall it was a very competent, spirited team performance. We rode our luck at times, but after a worrying opening period we mostly dominated, and thoroughly deserved the win, even if 3-0 was slightly flattering. I'm sure everyone involved enjoyed themselves, including us fans, lets hope we can continue with the same level of enthusiasm and competence next month, when the results really matter.
Stephen, Thailand

I was surprised. I fully anticipated a long journey to a respectable performance. The team has been set back psychologically over the last few campaigns, and that is probably the hardest hurdle they have to cross.

The Spanish were not the best side they could have been and the match was a friendly, but it was a strong and relaxed England performance. Roll on Finland.
Richard Brown, English, living is the US

I think Sven has already begun to instill confidence into the squad, something that have been missing for a number of years. They were clinical in front of goal and I think the left back role has been solved with Michael Ball, who has a great balance of attacking and defensive qualities.

Okay it was only a friendly, but beating a team like Spain 3-0 is an excellent starting point.

  Dominic Lau, Hong Kong

We should not just rely on the big teams, as Ball, MaCann, Powell and Lampard proved. I think the public should get behind him now, he needs time to get the best out of the players. Excellent! Well done Sven!
Steven Knibbs, UK

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