England returned to winning ways against Finland as Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning free-kick to lift Lee Carsley’s side to victory in Helsinki. The full-back curled an excellent free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards to double England’s lead after the visitors had lost their momentum following Jack Grealish’s first-half opener. Declan Rice then added a third for England on the counter-attack as Ollie Watkins came off the bench to make an impact after replacing Harry Kane. Finland pulled one back late on through a corner, with Arttu Hoskonen left unmarked. But the result was a positive one for Carsley overall with the interim manager returning to a more conventional formation following the disastrous defeat at home to Greece on Friday, and three points gets England back on track in their Nations League campaign.
England had a mixed night against Finland in the Nations League but returned to winning ways under Lee Carsley with victory in Helsinki. The interim manager returned to a more conventional system following Thursday’s shock defeat at home to Greece and Jack Grealish gave the visitors a deserved lead as he finished off a slick move. England rather lost their way in the second half, with Harry Kane and Cole Palmer struggling in an attack that didn’t always click into life, and Fredrik Jensen should have equalised for the hosts. But the Finland forward blazed over from inside yards before Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled England’s lead with an excellent free-kick in the 74th minute, firing into the top corner from 25 yards.
Declan Rice added a third, following a strong run from substitue Ollie Watkins, before Finland pulled one back late on following a corner to spoil Dean Henderson’s clean sheet.
With that win, England remain second in League B Group 2, level on nine points with Greece, who play Ireland later today (with kick-off at 7.45pm BST). Greece currently sit ahead of the Three Lions on goal difference. The race for promotion may well hinge on England’s result in Athens in November.
England’s Dominant First Half
England dominated possession early on, stringing together passes with purpose and creating chances that came close to the opening goal. The Three Lions pressed high and were quick to win the ball back when they lost possession. Finland struggled to cope with the intensity of England’s pressing. The first real chance of the match came in the eighth minute when a sloppy pass from Gomes allowed Keskinen to break through, but his shot was blocked. The goal eventually came in the 18th minute, with a stunning piece of skill from Grealish. It was a deserved lead for England, who were looking the more likely to score the first goal.
A Change of Momentum in the Second Half
The second half started with a change of momentum. While England still dominated possession, they were not able to create the same number of clear-cut chances as they had in the first half. Finland had more opportunities to score, and they would have equalized had Jensen not blazed over from six yards out. The introduction of Watkins gave England a much-needed lift, and his run set up Rice’s third goal in the 84th minute. It was a comfortable victory in the end, but the second half performance was not as convincing as the first. Finland pulled one back through Hoskonen but ultimately they couldn’t sustain any pressure to pull off a comeback.
What Next for England?
The win against Finland is a welcome boost for England, who were desperate for a positive result after the disappointing loss against Greece. The Three Lions now face a crucial game in Athens next month, with a win needed to secure promotion. The performance in Finland will give Carsley and his players plenty to work with as they look to fine-tune their game plan and secure the three points against Greece. The manager has a tough job ahead as he looks to bring consistency to the England team while developing the next generation of stars. It is still too early to judge whether Carsley is the right man for the job, but the win against Finland will have certainly given him a much-needed boost.
Carsley’s Confidence and Gomes’s Impact
Carsley seemed to be in good spirits after the match, highlighting the importance of playing to the strengths of the players he has at his disposal. He spoke of his enjoyment of the role, his confidence in his abilities and his appreciation for the quality of the players at his disposal. The impact of Gomes, who delivered an excellent through-ball to Grealish for the first goal, was also emphasized. Carsley stressed the crucial role that Gomes played in the team and the importance of creating a team around him. The manager will be hoping that Gomes can continue to impress in future matches and help to unlock England’s attacking potential.
A Positive Step Forward
The 3-1 victory over Finland is a significant result for England. It’s a result that puts them back on track in their Nations League campaign and gives them a much-needed boost ahead of the crucial game against Greece. It will be interesting to see how Carsley continues to shape his team in the lead up to that game. Overall, a solid performance with some positive signs, but England still needs to work on consistency. Whether the team can maintain this momentum remains to be seen, but the win against Finland is a good start.
