England vs Greece LIVE: Nations League result and reaction as hosts concede calamitous late goal
England 1-2 Greece: Vangelis Pavlidis’ two goals secured all three points
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England suffered their first defeat under Lee Carsley in a thrilling and frustrating encounter with Greece at Wembley. Having named an attacking and experimental line-up Carsley watched on in shock as his team were outclassed on the turf whilst struggling to utilise the talents of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in a coherent way.
The Greeks should have led at half-time. They had a goal disallowed after Jordan Pickford made some quickfire errors in an uncharacteristically nervous performance. They did lead just after the break with Vangelis Pavlidis weaving through three defenders to slot a low effort past the goalkeeper.
Two more disallowed goals for Greece tells the story of a shaky English defence that lacked substance. The progression nature of the full backs too often allowing space on the counter and leaving John Stones and Levi Colwill with too much to do. In the dying stages Jude Bellingham smoked in a rocket strike that almost nicked England a point.
The deciding moment though came to Pavlidis. England scrambled in the box once again and knocked the ball to the striker who took his chance and secured a first ever win against the Three Lions for Greece.
Relive the Nations League action with our live blog below:
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?”
England 0-0 Greece
43 mins: Another England corner, won be the pacey sprinting of Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon.
Trent Alexander-Arnold swings the ball into the middle of the box but once again the Three Lions fail to trouble the Greek defence.
England 0-0 Greece
40 mins: Alexander-Arnold dinks the set piece into the penalty area this time, looking for John Stones near the back post. The ball gets intercepted and looped into the air before Vlachodimos takes control of it.
Not England’s best set piece.
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