Roy Hodgson has admitted that his England side have a "bit to do" if they want to compete at Euro 2016 following their 2-0 defeat by Spain during Friday's friendly in Alicante.
Goals from Mario Gaspar and Santi Cazorla were enough for La Roja on a night which was supposed to offer an honest assessment of the Three Lions, who won all 10 of their qualifiers.
"The gap might be a gap in terms of their style of play, which is very possession-based, and our style of play, which is probably less possession-based," Hodgson is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
"We use counter-attacks with our very quick forwards and use that weapon, if you like. If you're asking, 'Are we going to be able to match them in that unbelievably clever passing game?' Perhaps we can't. But we don't need to do that.
"We saw at the World Cup that they, like ourselves, didn't have a good World Cup. But they are a good team and we have a bit to do and I'm hoping in the months ahead and a stronger squad to choose from we'll become better."
England face another test on Tuesday for the friendly with France at Wembley, which will go ahead despite initial safety fears following the Paris terror attacks which left at least 128 people dead.
Shane Callaghan
