Finland v England LIVE: Nations League result as Trent Alexander-Arnold scores stunning free-kick in win
Finland 1-3 England: The Three Lions bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Greece at Wembley last time out
England returned to winning ways against Finland as Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning free-kick to lift Lee Carsley’s side to victory in Helsinki.
The full-back curled an excellent free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards to double England’s lead after the visitors had lost their momentum following Jack Grealish’s first-half opener.
Declan Rice then added a third for England on the counter-attack as Ollie Watkins came off the bench to make an impact after replacing Harry Kane. Finland pulled one back late on through a corner, with Arttu Hoskonen left unmarked.
But the result was a positive one for Carsley overall with the interim manager returning to a more conventional formation following the disastrous defeat at home to Greece on Friday, and three points gets England back on track in their Nations League campaign.
Follow all the latest reaction to England’s win below:
‘A curious England performance’
“A curious England performance from England in Helsinki. They're winning, and they've obviously been much better than against Greece on Thursday, but that isn't necessarily the bar. The one thing that has already seemed clear from Carsley's four games is that they look so much closer to that classic positional game approach with Gomes in the team. He may not be perfect at - as seen with one bad pass backwards - but he is better than anyone England have. The pass through for Grealish's fine goal was divine. That is Carsley football at its best. The concern is they other side, as they have coughed up a lot of chances to a moderate side.”
Finland 0-1 England
52 mins
Good combination from Walker and Palmer as the latter releases Walker into the box before the City man’s cutback finds its way back to Palmer. He gets his shot through the bodies in the box, but it’s too close to Hradecky.
Finland 0-1 England
50 mins
Alexander-Arnold picks out Bellingham’s overlapping run, but it’s good defending from Hoskonen to stand up to the Madrid man’s dribble into the box.
Moments later, Alexander-Arnold tests Hradecky from distance, but it’s a simple save.
Finland 0-1 England
48 mins
Alexander-Arnold tries to whip it in with the outside of his foot but it goes straight behind for a goal kick.
England win possession back quickly though.
Finland 0-1 England
47 mins
Bellingham is dispossessed by Keskinen in the middle of the park, and he surges towards the box before laying it off to Kallman, but the pass was poor and it runs behind the striker.
KICK-OFF! Finland 0-1 England
Finland get the second half started in Helsinki.
HT: Finland 0-1 England
The two team are re-emerging from the tunnel now, so kick-off is moments away.
HALF-TIME! Finland 0-1 England
All in all, that was an easy half for Lee Carsley’s men.
The scoreline doesn’t flatter them, and Finland have had their chances, but England were very comfortable for huge swathes of that opening 45.
The Three Lions need to put a little bit of sparkle on this performance though, to add to what was a well-worked goal from Jack Grealish.
HALF-TIME! Finland 0-1 England
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