England vs Greece LIVE: Nations League updates as Pavlidis breaks deadlock at Wembley
Lee Carsley hopes to continue his winning start as England interim boss
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England play host to Greece in the Nations League as both teams look to continue their unbeaten in this top of the table encounter at Wembley.
Lee Carsley’s reign has got off to the perfect start with victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland during the September internationals. Harry Kane scored twice against the latter on his 100th appearance for the national side but is a doubt for this game after training away from the rest of the squad earlier in the week.
England have also been boosted by the returns of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer who will be causing the manager to think about how to fit all of them into the line-up.
Elsewhere, Greece have also won both of their Nations League outings, against the same opponents, but have outscored the Three Lions with five goals from those two games. This match represents the biggest test of the Carsley era so far but should England come through it they will be the favourites to win promotion back into League A.
Follow all the Nations League action with our live blog below:
England 0-1 Greece
55 mins: England are wobbling here. They don’t look comfortable at all defensively and Jordan Pickford is called into action to flap a shot away.
The pragmatism of the Gareth Southgate era is not at all on display tonight.
England 0-1 Greece
52 mins: With that goal, England have conceded for the first time under Lee Carsley. How will the manager repsond?
Bukayo Saka went down off the ball and had to be taken off the pitch. Noni Madueke is the man called on to replace him which shouldn’t affect the formation.
GOAL! England 0-1 Greece (Pavlidis, 49’)
49 mins: That’s a cracking goal!
England are all at sea at the back as Greece pile the pressure on. Konstantinos Koulierakis drives down the inside left channel before slipping it to Vangelis Pavlidis.
He weaves in between three English defenders then curls a low effort past Jordan Pickford into the back of the net!
England 0-0 Greece
48 mins: Nearly!
Alexander-Arnold chips the ball down the line for Saka then sprints up to the penalty area. Saka keeps hold of the ball then slips Alexander-Arnold into the box.
The defender backheels it hoping to set up Foden but his pass is off target and Greece clear their lines.
It was a slick, quick move from the hosts that almost came off.
Second half! England 0-0 Greece
Greece get the match back underway at Wembley.
Lee Carsley hasn’t made any changes at the break so it’s as you were for England. Can they improve and get the opening goal?
HT England 0-0 Greece
Here’s a look at Levi Colwill’s heroics and Jordan Pickford’s error that almost resulted in the opening goal:
HT England 0-0 Greece
Anyone fancy a few stats?
England created seven chances in the first half with just one on target. Despite having only 40% possession, Greece almost matched them with six chances and one on target.
Those chances don’t include the attempt that was cleared off the line nor the Greek disallowed goal.
Greece are calm and dangerous and can easily win this game if England don’t come up with a solution.
HT England 0-0 Greece
Half-time! England 0-0 Greece
45 mins: No minutes of added time to play. The whistle goes with Greece having created the better chances over the first half.
Lee Carsley’s experiment hasn’t worked, will he stick with it or switch things up after the break?
England 0-0 Greece
“Carsley's experiment hasn't really worked so far.
“Although England have weathered the way Greece got at them in those opening stages - not a great night for Jordan Pickford - there still isn't really coherence.
“The team currently looks like what it is: a lot of players out of position. It should be stressed that is actually fair enough.
“If there is ever time to experiment with an England team, it is surely in a Nations League home match when you've already won your first two games?”
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