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 0-0 England
3 mins: Chance! Anthony Gordon is fed the ball on the left wing and he decides to take on Lazaros Rota. Gordon is quicker and breezes past the right-back before pulling a pass back into the box.
The ball shoots just behind Ollie Watkins but comes to Noni Madueke who turns a shot towards goal but sees it blocked by the nearest defender.
Kick off! Greece 0-0 England
England get the ball rolling and send it back to Jordan Pickford. The Three Lions look to play out from the back with Greece immediately setting the press and causing a few issues.
Greece vs England
The players head out onto the pitch in Athens and the national athems are played and sung. England know they need to win this game, Greece will finish top of the group if they win or draw.
Let’s see how it plays out. Kick off is up next...
Kane vs Greece
Greece will become the 46th different nation Harry Kane has faced with England, scoring against 31 of the previous 45.
The Bayern Munich striker has been involved in 33 goals across his 33 away games for the Three Lions (23 goals, ten assists), however he’s failed to score in any of his last three games on the road since netting against Scotland in September last year.
England’s Nations League history
England have lost as many Nations League games as they’ve won (P22 W8 D6 L8) scoring 26 goals and conceding 25 in the process.
They have, however, won their last two away games in the competition and will be looking to win three on the bounce for the first time.
The Three Lions haven’t conceded more than a single goal in any of their last 13 competitive away fixtures (W8 D3 L2), conceding just seven goals in total during this period.
Harry Kane ‘pleasantly surprised’ by Thomas Tuchel appointment: ‘He brings a winning mentality’
Harry Kane has declared that Thomas Tuchel is the best man to win the World Cup for England – but admitted he was shocked when his former Bayern Munich manager was appointed.
Tuchel will begin on 1 January and has an 18-month contract as England manager, taking in the 2026 World Cup.
And Kane, who captained them in the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, believes Tuchel has the tactical brilliance required in major tournaments.
Harry Kane ‘pleasantly surprised’ by Thomas Tuchel appointment
Kane worked closely with the new England manager at Bayern Munich and believes he was the best candidate for the job
Greece’s dangerman
Greece’s Anastasios Bakasetas has had a hand in 13 goals across his last 14 appearances in the Nations League (six goals, seven assists) and since the inaugural edition of the competition in 2018-19 is the only player to both score (six) and assist (seven) more than five times.
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Five losses in 2024?
This will be England’s 16th game of 2024, only ever playing more games in 1966 (17), 2018 (17) and 2021 (19) – the Three Lions have lost four times this calendar year however, only losing more times in 1981 (five).
Fortress Athens
Greece have gone 286 minutes without conceding at home since Youssouf Fofana netted for France in November last year, their longest run on home turf without their opponents netting since going 617 minutes between February 2012 and October 2013.
Anthony Gordon keen to finally work with Thomas Tuchel after failed Chelsea move
Anthony Gordon cannot wait to finally work with Thomas Tuchel having been desperate to join England’s new boss when he was managing Chelsea.
The 23-year-old has established himself in the national team set-up since making his debut in March, building on his impressive performances for Newcastle.
Gordon made a big-money switch to St James’ Park from Everton in January 2023 having gone close to joining Chelsea the previous summer.
Anthony Gordon keen to finally work with Thomas Tuchel after failed Chelsea move
Gordon made a big-money switch to St James’ Park from Everton in January 2023 having gone close to joining Chelsea the previous summer.
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