Defender Gary Cahill has rejected the notion that England are not in the same league as Spain after losing 2-0 in Friday's friendly.

Goals from Mario Gaspar and Santi Cazorla in the final 18 minutes were enough in Alicante as La Roja brought their English counterparts back to earth, having won all 10 of their Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson later admitted that his troops had a "bit to do" in order to reach Spain's level, but Cahill suggests that there is by no means a gulf in class between both nations.

"The result flattered them a little bit. For 70 minutes I thought we were well in the game but goals change games and it was a special goal that opened it up," the Chelsea man, who came on late in the defeat, is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"They do have a lot of the ball but they have it in areas where they don't really hurt you. They have got some class international players. Every time I see Spain play they have more possession than the opposition. It's just the way they play.

"As we left the dressing room, someone told me a stat that they'd not lost at home for nine years. But I think you can get at them. I thought it was very cagey up until the first goal which was very special."

Hodgson's men host France in another friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.