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:
Anthony Gordon on playing for club and country
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was an injury doubt ahead of the England squad getting together but he has been passed fit and wants to play in these two internationals.
He spoke about what it is like to play for his club and his country saying: “It’s a good question! I’d say whatever is my current team is that I’m playing for, is most important. That’s what’s in front of me and that’s the challenge ahead, so it’s hard to say one.
“I think with England it’s a different feeling because you’re selected to be in a group where it’s the best from every team, which is a good feeling but I’d say what’s right ahead of me.”
Why Lewis Hall can see stars aligning for him to meet England’s biggest need
In their last 13 matches, England have only once started with a specialist left-back. Now a specialist left-back has emerged who debuted under Thomas Tuchel and who, even before the German takes charge, can benefit from the coaching of England’s most-capped full-back. If the autumn of 2023 was decidedly difficult for Lewis Hall, a year on, the stars could seem to be aligning for him.
Of the six uncapped players in Lee Carsley’s squad this month, Hall has the clearest path to a place in the team. Luke Shaw began the Euro 2024 final, but his outings have become rarities amid his injury problems. Kieran Trippier was the right-back pressed into service on the opposite flank in Germany but he has opted for international retirement.
Stars aligning for Lewis Hall to meet England’s biggest need
Injured left-backs and out of position right-backs leave the Newcastle defender primed to stake his claim
Hall on playing in ‘big games'
Lewis Hall is likely to start for England at left-back tonight and should he do well he may just nail down that position as his own.
He spoke about playing in big games and coming up against top players in the hopes of cementing a place in the national team.
“I have played in some big games this year and faced some tricky opponents, Saka being the main one,” Hall said. “He is a very, very good player. Noni [Madueke] as well – he is really quick, strong, powerful.
“Those two are difficult opponents, Bernardo Silva as well. He is different to them; a bit more technical, close control with the ball, finds himself in good positions which make him difficult to mark.”
Greece vs England
The Three Lions have played Greece at men’s senior level on ten occasions, registering seven wins, drawing twice and losing once, at Wembley last month.
Carsley yet to speak to Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel will be taking up his role as England manager in January but decided not to speak with Lee Carsley ahead of this international break.
The reasons why are unknown but the incoming boss may not want to interfere with Carsley’s last two games in charge.
Amid mass withdrawals and a must-win game, Carsley’s kids will determine his England legacy
It is an England football team, if not the England team that will take the field in Athens on Thursday night. Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish is a line-up that would require a false nine. There may be an irony there, given that Lee Carsley’s striker-less formation was a major factor in defeat to Greece last month.
But instead of each playing, they are all absent, either injured or recuperating. Six of them started the Euro 2024 final and a seventh, Palmer, scored in it, so it seems no exaggeration to call it a stronger side than the team Carsley will actually pick.
Amid mass withdrawals, Carsley’s kids will determine his England legacy
The Three Lions face Greece in a crucial encounter with the interim manager forced to name a squad short of international experience
Previous meetings this century
England 4-0 Greece, August 2006
A meeting at Old Trafford against Otto Rehhagel’s reigning European Champions ended in a convincing win for new boss Steve McClaren in his first game in charge. Goals from John Terry, Frank Lampard and a brace from Peter Crouch proved the difference on the day.
England 2-2 Greece, 6 October 2001
Who could forget David Beckham’s unstoppable free-kick in the last minute to seal the result and England’s place in the 2002 World Cup? Greece had taken the lead twice at Old Trafford, either side of Teddy Sheringham’s goal, but it was captain Beckham who took the plaudits after an all-action display to help pull England over the line.
The last meeting
England 1-2 Greece
The visitors scored in added time to win all three points at Wembley in the first 2024-25 Nations league fixture between these sides.
Jude Bellingham thought he’d earned the Three Lions a point with an 87th-minute strike but Vangelis Pavlidis - who had earlier broken the deadlock - scored his second goal of the evening to seal the win.
What did Carsley learn from Wembley defeat?
England were beaten by Greece at Wembley during the last international window and must now triumph away from home to have a chance at winning automatic promotion.
Lee Carsley says the squad learned a lot from that defeat and will try to improve tonight.
The interim boss said: “First and foremost, the tempo we have to play at and the chances we create we have to take. Real basics, but a good reminder.
“We tried something different that night so you’ll probably see something more conventional in terms of the way we play, but I expect us to play a good, attacking style and hopefully we can get a good result.
“We’ve definitely prepared well for the game, they’re very well organised and a strong team with a great history. We definitely didn’t underestimate them [in October] and we expect a tough game.
“We found they were very good on the counter attack especially so it’s going to be a difficult game.”
‘Southgate brought back joy'
Harry Kane says that Gareth Southgate brought back the joy in playing for England and hopes that the former manager’s exit doesn’t result in that feeling being lost.
Kane said: “I think the joy to play for England. I think he brought that back. I think every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club. England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”
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