Curtis Jones scored on his England debut as Lee Carsley’s side sealed a 3-0 win over Greece to take control of UEFA Nations League Group B2 ahead of the final league phase game.
Knowing they had to win in Athens to keep their hopes of topping the group alive and avoiding an unwanted two-legged promotion play-off in March, England started fast and quickly took control of the tie through Ollie Watkins’ early strike.
Watkins, who was surprisingly picked to start over record goalscorer Harry Kane, steered home a cross from the lively Noni Madueke to put The Three Lions ahead on seven minutes.
The Aston Villa striker had a great chance to double England’s lead on the stroke of half-time when he was put through on goal before losing the ball, and early in the second half Rico Lewis and Jude Bellingham came close to a second.
In the closing stages, Greece pressed for an equaliser but Bellingham had other ideas, knowing that a two-goal cushion was crucial for England in their search for automatic promotion.
The Real Madrid star made a driving run through midfield and found space on the edge of the box before unleashing a low strike, which crashed off the post, hit the goalkeeper on the rebound and trickled over the line.
Three minutes later, substitute Morgan Gibbs-White found Jones in the box and he slotted home for a memorable debut goal and England’s third.
Carsley’s side are now top of the group of Group B2 and are in pole position to qualify for promotion to League A, should they beat Ireland at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Talking point – England in control of promotion chances
A victory would have been great for England, but victory with a three-goal cushion has lifted The Three Lions above Greece on goal difference and now things are in their own hands as they prepare to face Republic of Ireland in their final Group B2 game.
Should they get the job done and seal automatic qualification to League A, they will skip a two-legged play-off next year, which you would imagine incoming boss Thomas Tuchel – who starts his role in less than 50 days – would be desperate to avoid.
Player of the Match – Jordan Pickford (England)
Lots of plaudits will go to Carsley for his brave team selection and those players who stepped up in the absence of plenty of first-team players – and rightly so – but Jordan Pickford made two crucial stops to deny Greece an equaliser. Without them, this game could have gone very differently for England.
He made a strong save on the half-hour mark to thwart Premier League rival Konstantinos Tsimikas, before denying Fotis Ioannidis just after an hour. In addition to those stops, he commanded his box expertly and was good with the ball at his feet. He did not put a foot wrong in Athens and not for the first time in an England shirt.
Jordan Pickford celebrates England’s win over Greece.
Image credit: Eurosport
Match ratings
Greece: Vlachodimos 4, Rota 5, Mavropanos 6, Koulierakis 7, Tsimikas 6, Siopis 6, Zafeiris 5, Masouras 5, Bakasetas 6, Tzolis 6, Pavlidis 5
Subs: Mandas, Tzolakis, Giannoulis, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Hatzidakos, Palkas, Konstantelias, Mantalos, Alexandropoulos, Douvikas, Ioannidis
England: Pickford 9, Walker 7, Konsa 6, Guehi 7, Lewis 7, Gallagher 7, Jones 8, Madueke 8, Bellingham 8, Gordon 6, Watkins 8
Subs: Gibbs-White 6, Kane 6, Hall 6, Rogers 6, Bowen 6
Match highlights
7’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-1 ENGLAND (WATKINS): And that’s why he’s in the team! Jude Bellingham threads a pass down the right for Madueke to chase, and he shifts past his man and pulls back a low cross for Watkins to slot home into a nearly empty net. What a start by The Three Lions!
29’ – WHAT A SAVE FROM PICKFORD! Tsimikas finds room in the box and blasts an effort at Pickford’s front post but the Everton goalkeeper gets a strong arm to the shot – which comes to him as quick as a flash – and beats the ball away. Walker is having a word with Madueke, who has been brilliant offensively so far but failed to track the left-back.
45’+2 – AN ENGLAND CHANCE GOES BEGGING! Watkins looks to be through on goal, but he loses the ball which slows down as he tries to drive into the penalty area. A great opportunity for England to double their lead on the stroke of half-time.
52’ – LEWIS DENIED! After some brilliant build-up play on the left through Gordon, England switch the ball to Madueke on the right, and he finds Lewis but his fierce shot inside the box is blocked. Another good chance for 2-0!
54’ – ENGLAND HIT THE POST! A cross comes in from the right and Bellingham glances it goal-bound but the goalkeeper thinks it’s going wide, until it bounces off the woodwork.
63’ – ANOTHER BIG SAVE FROM PICKFORD! That’s his second crucial stop to protect England’s lead. It’s substitute Fotis Ioannidis with a great strike but Pickford gets just enough on it to steer the ball behind for a corner.
79’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-2 ENGLAND (VLACHODIMOS OWN GOAL): England double their lead against the run of play! Bellingham drives towards goal, finds space and pulls the trigger on a low shot which crashes off the foot of the post, hits the goalkeeper on the back on the rebound and trickles over the line.
83’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-3 ENGLAND (JONES): A dream debut for Jones who scores England’s third! In a silky Three Lions move. Gibbs-White, who has been on the pitch for minutes, pulls a cross back for Jones to slot home.
Key stats
- Curtis Jones is the first Liverpool player to score on his England debut since Sammy Lee back in November 1982, also in an away game against Greece.
- At 20 years and 67 days, Lewis Hall is the youngest Newcastle United player to appear for England in a competitive international since Jock Rutherford in 1904 in a Home Nations match (19 years & 180 days).
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