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:
England on the road
England are unbeaten in their last seven away games (W5 D2), their longest such run on the road since 12 games in a row between March 2013 and October 2015 under Roy Hodgson.
Three Lions have good memories in Greece
England have won on all four of their previous trips to face Greece by an aggregate score of 9-1, only holding a better win-rate away from home against Luxembourg (5/5).
Greece are on the longest active winning run of any European nation in all competitions (five games) and could win six consecutive matches for the first time November 2013.
Can Greece win again?
Greece went winless across their first nine meetings with England in all competitions (D2 L7) before winning 2-1 at Wembley last month.
The only teams to beat the Three Lions twice in the same calendar year are Wales in 1936, Italy in 1973, Belgium in 2018 and Hungary in 2022.
Carsley benches Kane again
“For the second time, Lee Carsley has fielded a team without Harry Kane against Greece.
“This time by choice, however: while Kane criticised the players who stayed away, he has turned up and been rewarded with a place on the bench.
“A penny for his thoughts right now.”
Anthony Gordon reveals all on failed Chelsea move: ‘It was quite close, to be honest’
Anthony Gordon has revealed he was “desperate” to play for Thomas Tuchel when the next England manager tried to sign him in 2022 and can’t wait to link up with him on international duty.
Tuchel’s Chelsea made a £40m bid for Gordon in the summer of 2022 but the Merseyside club refused to sell, with former manager Frank Lampard determined to keep the winger.
Gordon eventually joined Newcastle instead in January 2023, four months after Chelsea had sacked Tuchel, and the 23-year-old has gone on to earn 10 England caps under Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley.
Anthony Gordon reveals all on failed Chelsea move: ‘It was quite close’
The Newcastle star was a target for the Blues during Tuchel’s reign at Stamford Bridge before staying with Everton until January 2023 when he moves to St James' Park
England ready for Greece
England team changes
Lee Carsley makes eight changes to the team that started against Finland in England last outing.
The players that remain are Kyle Walker, March Guehi and Jude Bellingham.
Jordan Pickford returns in goal while Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis fill out the rest of the defence. In midfield Curtis Jones starts alongside Conor Gallagher in the holding roles with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke on the wings.
Ollie Watkins starts up front in what is easily the biggest talking point as Harry Kane begins the match on the bench.
Greece vs England line-ups
Greece XI: Vlachodimos:Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Siopis, Zafeiris; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins
Gordon on almost moving to Chelsea
“It was quite close, to be honest,” Gordon said abotu his possible move to Chelsea from Everton. “I was desperate to go at the time and work with him [Thomas Tuchel] especially. I felt like my style would suit his style of play, the way he was playing at Chelsea which was very exciting for me.
“It didn’t end up happening. It was a big opportunity for me that didn’t end up happening and I’m looking forward to getting to work with him a couple of years later.”
Gordon on Greece defeat
Anthony Gordon says England want revenge on Greece after their defeat at Wembley.
Speaking ahead of the game he said: “I think with the England national team, we don’t feel like we should lose any game so losing a game like that, we do want a bit of revenge and to prove we can beat them.
“With the players we’ve got, we felt like we should have won at Wembley but we underperformed and didn’t take our chances and now we have another opportunity to do that.”
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