Greeks snatch it right at the death: Five things we learned from England 1-2 Greece | OneFootball

Vangelis Pavlidis scored a dramatic late winner for Greece as they beat England 2-1 in their Nations League group.

The visitors had taken the lead early in the second half after Pavlidis wiggled his way through the England defence and passed the ball past Jordan Pickford to Greek bedlam.

However, despite Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser, Pavlidis popped up deep into stoppage time to win the game for the Greeks after a series of poor defensive decisions from the England players.

Here are five things we learned from a disappointing night…

Pickford bailed out after clangers before second half collapse

The first ten minutes of this match could not have got much worse for goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. First, after winning the ball on the edge of the box, the Everton stopper proceeded to kick it straight to a Greece player, who looked to have scored the opener for the visitors. Levi Colwill was able to bail Pickford out, as did the linesman after the 30-year-old missed his punched from a corner to Pavilidis. This did not stop Greece scoring in the second period for a famous win.

Carsley gamble doesn’t pay off

When the team sheet came out 75 minutes before kick off, not many would have imagined seeing Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in the starting eleven, but there they were. However, this gamble from England interim manager Lee Carsley did not pay off, with a lack of balance and support for Declan Rice in the midfield. The Three Lions were constantly exposed on the counter, conceding to the visitors early in the second period.

England lack goal threat without Kane

England with Harry Kane up front are threat going forward, even with a half fit Kane the Three Lions have a chance against most teams. It always seems to be an issue when England’s record goalscorer is injured or unavailable. Without him, Carsley’s side looked worryingly hopeless up front, with even a combination of Bellingham and Foden unable to inspire the hosts.

Paper planes galore after uneventful first half

Paper planes have become synonymous to England’s home matches at Wembley Stadium. It is a near certainty that planes thrown from the stands by fans will be caught on the TV cameras nose diving onto the Wembley turf. But instead of the usual wait for the second period, planes were seen glittering the pitch as early as 15 minutes in, such was a shocking quality of this tie.

Stunning Greece win on emotional day

After the shocking news that Greek international and former Sheffield United player George Baldock sadly passed away yesterday, the Greece National team went and put on one of their best performances in years as they showed England up in their own backyard. Tributes for Baldock were had prior to the match, but emotions were still high after the Greek opener, as Pavlidis removed his black armband and pointed high into the sky. An emotional day all round.