Spain manager Julen Lopetegui dismisses Jamie Vardy challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta as 'normal'

Spain manager Julen Lopetegui has played down Jamie Vardy's controversial challenge on Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta during his side's 2-2 draw with England at Wembley.

Despite Tuesday's (15 November) clash being a friendly match, Azpilicueta was caught by a late and dangerously high lunge from the Leicester City striker just eight minutes into the contest.

The Blues defender was caught high up on his left shin and was fortunate to escape serious injury. Despite the reckless challenge, referee Ovidiu Hategan, who would show four yellow cards before the first half was out, took no further action after penalising the England striker for a foul.

The challenge produced an angry response from Azpilicueta's teammates and provoked a similarly frustrated response from Chelsea supporters on social media.

But Lopetegui brushed off the incident during in his post match press conference, insisting such challenges were 'normal' in high intensity games.

"It is normal, I think," he told reporters. "It is a high intensity match, all the players want to win today, all the players want the best, so this intensity is normal."

Following Adam Lallana's first-half penalty, Vardy doubled England's lead just two minutes into the second half, meeting Jordan Henderson's cross with a superb diving header.

Gareth Southgate's side have their chances to see out the game but were made to pay for those missed opportunities when Spain struck twice in the final minutes of the contest.

Former Liverpool misfit Iago Aspas beat Tom Heaton with a superb curling strike to ignite the Spanish comeback, with Real Madrid midfielder Isco drawing level with a precise finish in injury time.