Lee Carsley’s England rebounded from a 2-1 defeat to Greece on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Finland in the Nations League, thanks to goals from Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Declan Rice.
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Following a lackluster display at Wembley and Carsley’s comments about not wanting the England managerial role full-time, the Euro 2024 finalists were in dire need of both a result and a confident performance. They delivered on both fronts with a solid showing from start to finish.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Grealish calmly slotted home after Angel Gomes played a clever through-ball that carved open the Finnish defense.
England controlled the first half but faced brief moments of pressure from Finland. Markku Kanerva’s side couldn’t capitalize on some defensive lapses by England. Then Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up with a sensational free-kick, bending the ball into the top-left corner, leaving goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky with no chance.
Declan Rice added a third goal with a well-worked finish, securing the win. Finland did grab a late consolation in the 87th minute, as Arttue Hoskonen headed home from a set-piece. Despite that moment of nervousness, England saw the game out and claimed all three points.
Player Ratings:
Finland:
- GK – Lukas Hradecky – 6/10: Despite conceding three, the Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper made some key saves. He was helpless for Alexander-Arnold’s wonder strike.
- RWB – Nikolai Alho – 6/10: Struggled to contain Grealish, who slipped behind him for the opener, but improved as the game wore on.
- CB – Arttue Hoskonen – 6/10: Strong in the air and well-positioned, scoring Finland’s only goal.
- CB – Robert Ivanov – 7/10: A solid performance, keeping Kane quiet for most of the match.
- CB – Matti Peltola – 6.5/10: Disciplined at the back, making crucial interceptions.
- LWB – Jere Uronen – 6/10: Showed intent to push forward but lacked end product.
- CM – Glen Kamara – 6/10: Physical in midfield, causing England problems in the first half.
- CM – Rasmus Schuller – 5/10: Largely ineffective and replaced to shore up Finland’s midfield.
- RW – Fredrik Jensen – 5/10: Missed a golden chance and struggled to make an impact.
- ST – Benjamin Källman – 6/10: Had some good moments but was replaced early in the second half.
- LW – Topi Keskinen – 5/10: A poor outing, struggled to influence the game.
England:
- GK – Dean Henderson – 6/10: A quiet night but stayed alert. Couldn’t do much for Finland’s late goal.
- RB – Kyle Walker – 5/10: Looked off the pace and struggled in defensive transitions.
- CB – Marc Guehi – 7.5/10: Commanding at the back and one of England’s standout performers.
- CB – John Stones – 6/10: A few shaky moments but did enough to support Guehi.
- LB – Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10: Out of position at left-back but contributed brilliantly with his stunning free-kick.
- CM – Angel Gomes – 7/10: Pulled the strings in midfield and provided a superb assist for Grealish.
- CM – Declan Rice – 6/10: Solid in possession but lacked creativity going forward. Scored England’s third.
- RW – Cole Palmer – 5/10: Struggled to get involved, particularly in the first half.
- CAM – Jude Bellingham – 6/10: Had plenty of the ball but lacked his usual flair and sharpness.
- LW – Jack Grealish – 8/10: The liveliest player on the pitch. Scored England’s opener and was a constant threat.
- ST – Harry Kane – 5/10: A quiet night for England’s captain, who dropped deep too often.
Substitutes:
- Noni Madueke – 5/10: Provided energy after coming on.
- Ollie Watkins – 5/10: Assisted Rice’s goal after replacing Kane.
- Phil Foden – 3/10: Had little time to make an impact.
- Rico Lewis – 4/10: Impressive short cameo.
- Conor Gallagher – 3/10: Had little involvement after coming on.
Man of the Match:
Jack Grealish
The Manchester City winger was the key player for England, scoring the opener and creating danger throughout the game. His creativity and energy were crucial to England’s win and solidified his importance in the team under Lee Carsley.
