Greece vs England LIVE: Result and reaction as Three Lions seal victory in must-win Nations League clash
Greece 0-3 England: Ollie Watkins, an own goal created by Jude Bellingham and Curtis Jones ensured Lee Carsley’s Three Lions got the victory they needed in Athens
England took a big step closer to winning automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with a strong 3-0 victory over rivals Greece in Athens.
Interim manager Lee Carsley made it four wins out of five for his time in charge and made a bold call in leaving captain Harry Kane on the bench to start the game. His replacement was Ollie Watkins and the decision made off spectacularly. Noni Madueke sprinted down the right and slipped in a pass that Watkins turned home with seven minutes on the clock.
The early breakthrough settled the nerves and England were able to weather a storm from the hosts with Jordan Pickford proving his worth on a busy night between the sticks. In the second half, Carsley made attacking substitutions and replaced the whole front line.
It worked a treat as first Bellingham raced at the defence to score a fortuitious deflected shot from range before Curtis Jones added a third with a dainty flick having been supplied by substitute Morgan Rogers. Three goals and three points puts England top of Group B2 and they need one more win to gain promotion.
Relive the action from the Nations League with our live blog below as England take on Greece:
Greece 0-1 England
66 mins: Greece are having more moments and Pickford is found in an awkward position as Tzolis looks to get on the end of a bouncing ball.
He can’t get there and England manage to win a free kick.
Greece 0-1 England
63 mins: Save!
Greece substitute Fotis Ionnidis almost puts in an equaliser after the hosts turn the ball over in the middle of the pitch. the forward is played into space and sweeps to the box before curling a shot at the bottom corner.
Pickford comes off his line and palms the shot just wide of the goal.
Greece 0-1 England
60 mins: Conor Gallagher wins a free kick out on the left wing after Manolis Siopis dangles out a leg. Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke come over to check out the situation.
Gordon lifts the ball over towards the far post and Jude Bellingham almost gets to it with an outstretched leg.
Greece 0-1 England
57 mins: Christos Tzolis isn’t going to let this game drift. He dances around Madueke and then decides to shoot from outside the box. The effort is powerful but there’s not enough accuracy and the ball sails high and wide.
Greece 0-1 England
“A couple of moments involving the lesser spotted Odysseas Vlachidimos, the PSR goalkeeper transferred from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle for £20m in the summer and seeming, at best, Eddie Howe's third-choice keeper.
“He made a decent save to deny Rico Lewis but looked oddly slow to react when Jude Bellingham's header hit the post.”
Greece 0-1 England
54 mins: Post!
England come at Greece again and manage to flick the ball into the box from the right. Bellingham is on hand to whip a headed effort towards the far corner where the ball bounces onto the woodwork and richochets to safety.
Greece 0-1 England
53 mins: Save! Gordon weaves and tricks his way up the pitch before switching the play out to Madueke. He drives into the box and offloads the ball to Lewis who blazes a shot towards the near post and forces a strong save out of Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Greece 0-1 England
51 mins: Greece’s press is dangerous and this makeshift English defence will need to be on the top of the game to avoid a mistake. A second goal would settle them down.
Greece 0-1 England
48 mins: Lovely stuff from Curtis Jones to play England out of a high press. The ball is swept over to Rico Lewis on the right wing and he flies up the pitch before giving it to Noni Madueke who puts in a cross.
None of the white shirts can get on the end of it but Anthony Gordon recovers the ball and keeps the pressure on.
Second half! Greece 0-1 England
Lee Carsley makes a change at the break and brings Lewis Hall on to replace Ezri Konsa. That means there is a shift in England back line with Kyle Walker now playing as a centre-back and Rico Lewis switched over to the right hand side.
Hall plays left-back. Greece restart the game.
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