Greece vs England LIVE: Result and reaction as Three Lions seal victory in must-win Nations League clash | OneFootball

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Lee Carsley is yet to speak to Thomas Tuchel about the England squad

England took a big step closer to winning automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with a strong 3-0 victory over rivals Greece in Athens.

Interim manager Lee Carsley made it four wins out of five for his time in charge and made a bold call in leaving captain Harry Kane on the bench to start the game. His replacement was Ollie Watkins and the decision made off spectacularly. Noni Madueke sprinted down the right and slipped in a pass that Watkins turned home with seven minutes on the clock.

The early breakthrough settled the nerves and England were able to weather a storm from the hosts with Jordan Pickford proving his worth on a busy night between the sticks. In the second half, Carsley made attacking substitutions and replaced the whole front line.

It worked a treat as first Bellingham raced at the defence to score a fortuitious deflected shot from range before Curtis Jones added a third with a dainty flick having been supplied by substitute Morgan Rogers. Three goals and three points puts England top of Group B2 and they need one more win to gain promotion.

Pinned

England’s Ollie Watkins gamble pays off to leave tricky Harry Kane question

In the tale of the captain and the caretaker, Lee Carsley’s great gamble paid off. England managers can be defined by a decision involving a talismanic striker. Graham Taylor ended Gary Lineker’s international career to bring on Alan Smith. Alf Ramsey preferred Geoff Hurst to Jimmy Greaves for a World Cup final. One got it wrong, the other very right.

Carsley’s reign will be briefer, the stakes lower. But if it risked being remembered for one selection, it was justified. Harry Kane, the skipper who criticised the teammates who did not seem to want to play for England, was himself denied a start.

Ollie Watkins began instead, scored with his first touch and set England on course to a redemptive win. Wretched at Wembley last month, when they lost to Greece, they exacted revenge in ultimately impressive fashion. The worst game of Carsley’s tenure came against Greece. So, now, did the best.

Mike Jones14 November 2024 22:17

Lee Carsley reacts to England win

The England interim boss told ITV: “It represents that we are moving in the right direction. We won’t get too carried away, we have a big game on Sunday at Wembley.

“It is just important the players played to their strengths. We have a lot of outstanding talent. The players that weren’t here, we concentrated on the ones who were. They took their opportunity today.

“Curtis Jones is an outstanding player. He played really well, even without his goal. With his goal it was an excellent performance.

“People were speaking last night about the inexperience in the squad but these players are playing for their clubs at a really high level.”

Mike Jones14 November 2024 22:21

Jones on scoring his first England goal

Liverpool’s Curtis Jones made his debut for England tonight and capped off a good performance with his first international goal. After the match he spoke to ITV saying:

“The lads around me helped me. I was playing free and had a smile on my face so I was enjoying it and I came in with a goal as well.

“With a team like ours, I can come high or go low and there’s lads there to help. Jude stayed back and I saw I had a chance. Luckily enough I scored.”

Mike Jones14 November 2024 22:07

More from Bellingham:

“There would been a million and one excuses if we didn’t play well and didn’t get over the line but lads went out and did their business so professionally. We’re back to the top of the group where we belong.”

(AFP via Getty Images)

Mike Jones14 November 2024 22:05

England player ratings as Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham shine in crucial win over Greece

England avenged their shock defeat to Greece at Wembley last month as Lee Carsley’s side kept their chances of promotion back to Nations League A alive with a generally positive performance in a 3-0 win in Athens.

England flew out of the blocks at the Athens Olympic Stadium with Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham particularly impressing and they both had a key hand in Ollie Watkins’s seventh-minute goal.

However, Greece came back into the game as the first half wore on, with Kostas Tsimikas forcing Jordan Pickford into a good save and the pressure built even further after the break, when it took another superb Pickford stop to deny Fotis Ioannidis.

England player ratings as Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham shine in key win in Greece

Greece 0-3 England: Ollie Watkins, an own goal created by Bellingham and Curtis Jones ensured Lee Carsley’s Three Lions got the victory they needed in Athens

Mike Jones14 November 2024 21:58

FT Greece 0-3 England

(Action Images via Reuters)

(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

(The FA via Getty Images)

Mike Jones14 November 2024 21:47