England made amends for their shocking defeat at Wembley in October, defeating Greece 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
Ollie Watkins gave the visitors the lead in the seventh minute, poking home after Noni Madueke did brilliantly to tee him up in the box.
Greece would have moments where they were allowed back into the contest, but their shooting boots were missing, something which would lead to their downfall.
Come the second half, an unfortunate Odisseas Vlachodimos own goal all-but wrapped up proceedings, before Curtis Jones scored a sumptuous flick on his England debut to make sure of a vital win in the UEFA Nations League.
As it happened
Ah, the international break. It’ll get you eventually. Lurking around the corner, hiding, waiting to pounce. Season hotting up? It’s international break time. Star player finally finding their form? Guess what, it’s international break o’clock. Big derby around the corner? No, it’s not; it’s all about the international break now.
England had a lot to play for, too. A win against Greece was an utter necessity to maintain any hope of automatic promotion to the UEFA Nations League’s top division. It was likely, though, that one wouldn’t be enough; the hosts’ goal difference was superior, and a big win would likely be necessary for any hopes of rubbing shoulders with the giants once more. This was a genuinely interesting clash in a competition which, let’s face it, not many people really care about.
It was also a heavily rotated England team. Nine players had withdrawn from the squad thanks to injury and fatigue, resulting in a bench which was less than familiar for a first team, but more than familiar for Lee Carsley, the man in the dugout for the penultimate time with hopes of returning to his role with the under-21s.
This late bout of his started perfectly, with his side taking the lead after only seven minutes. It was worked wonderfully down the right-hand side; Noni Madueke started the move with a disguised flick to Jude Bellingham, who shortly after returned the favour, playing him further down the line. The Chelsea man did the rest, jinking into the box, taking the ball to the byline and squaring it into the six-yard box. Waiting there was Ollie Watkins, with just enough room to poke the ball into an all-but empty net.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the ideal start, but England needed more – especially with October’s loss to these opponents still relatively fresh in the memory.
They continued their strong start throughout the first half-hour but couldn’t quite find the same finishing touch. Anthony Gordon would try to whip a strike into the top corner, denied only by the head of Kostas Mavropanos. Madueke would try to double his tally with a tame effort, and Bellingham would break into the area only to be denied by a crucial recovery challenge from Konstantinos Koulierakis.
But that was it. It was pleasing that England took the lead and took control of the game (something which Gareth Southgate’s sides refused to do with a religious level of devotion), but after half an hour, the game left their grip. Greece were allowed to get back into the game.
That said, any efforts they could muster were generally speculative. Right back Llazaros Rota dragged one shot from distance wide of the post and captain Anastasios Bakasetas would almost do the same 10 minutes later, no fewer than 40 yards from goal, albeit on target.
Their best chance by some distance came from Kostas Tsimikas. After a give and go with Christos Tzolis, the left-back fired an effort towards Jordan Pickford’s near post, only to be denied by a rapid reaction. On this rare occasion, the Everton man got the better of his Liverpool counterpart.
Embed from Getty ImagesHalftime would arrive with England in front. They weren’t quite in full control, but that was an awful lot better than being out of ideas entirely – as was the case in the reverse fixture at Wembley.
The second half began similarly to the first, except the visitors wouldn’t score so early. Still, they had all the ball and created the best early chances.
The first of those came from Rico Lewis, who smashed an effort from a slightly uncomfortable angle which was well saved by Odisseas Vlachodimos. Only a minute later, Newcastle’s backup keeper would have a much less assured moment, as he was bamboozled by an innocuous looking Bellingham header that would ultimately bounce off the post to safety.
But then, as was the case in the first half, England took their foot off the gas and allowed Greece far too much freedom. And yet again, they couldn’t take advantage, with Tzolis failing to convert two promising chances, and Pickford called into action to deny a certain goal from substitute Fotis Ioannidis.
All of those were in a period of eight minutes. Only a goal to the good with 20 minutes left to play, England were on thin ice – and both sides needed to score again to keep themselves in pole position for promotion.
One team would find that crucial goal in the 78th minute – and it wasn’t Greece.
Bellingham picked up the ball just inside the Greek half and decided to take matters into his own hands. He strode forwards, took his time, picked his moment, and took his shot. It cannoned off the post, but only into the back of a desperately unlucky Vlachodimos. As he scrambled to retrieve the ball, it trickled cruelly over the line. Two to the good, England had finally secured the victory they really needed.
Then, with the game all-but won, they’d make it three and really assert their dominance. On his England debut, it was Curtis Jones to wrap up proceedings – and he did it in some style. First, two substitutes combined; Jarrod Bowen slipping Morgan Gibbs-White into the area. Then, it was pure brilliance; the Nottingham Forest man pulled the ball back where Jones had made a run. It was a little behind him, so he improvised with a sumptuous flick which nestled into the bottom corner. If it wasn’t a done deal yet, it was now: England had won, top spot at their mercy.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, as Nations League games go, this was one that felt like it had some meaning. Greece had to avoid defeat to guarantee top spot, but in the end they were well-beaten.
England, on the other hands, put themselves in the perfect position to secure promotion. They go top of the group, a win against Ireland come Sunday all they now need to go up to the A groups.
So, maybe the Nations League does have its merits. Promotion and relegation at international level still feels a bizarre concept, but drama is drama, and England have both prevailed and avenged last month’s loss.
A win against the side he represented as a player is all Lee Carsley needs to leave the manager’s office with his head held high. No pressure.
The lineups
GRE: Vlachodimos; Tsimikas, Koulierkas, Mavropanos, Rota; Zaferis, Siopis; Tzolis, Bakasetas, Masouras; Pavlidis
ENG: Pickford; Lewis, Konsa, Guéhi, Walker; Jones, Gallagher; Gordon, Bellingham, Madueke; Watkins