England secured a much-needed victory on Sunday, defeating Finland 3-1 in the Nations League, thanks to a stunning free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold. This win helped the team avoid further embarrassment following their recent defeat to Greece, which marked the first time Greece had beaten England at Wembley.
Despite the triumph, England’s performance in Helsinki was far from flawless, as they struggled for long stretches. However, they displayed just enough quality in the final third to ease the pressure on interim manager Lee Carsley, who has been under scrutiny as the Football Association considers permanent management options.
Jack Grealish opened the scoring in the first half with a composed finish, but Finland squandered multiple opportunities to equalise. In the second half, Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice added to the tally, ensuring England’s third win in four matches under Carsley’s leadership. Although Finland’s Arttu Hoskonen scored late in the game, England remained in contention for promotion from Nations League Group B2.
Carsley, who has been in the spotlight since replacing Gareth Southgate, faced challenges following the Greece loss. Reports suggest that former Bayern Munich and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is in discussions with the Football Association, alongside Newcastle manager Eddie Howe as a potential candidate.
To respond to the criticism, Carsley made six changes to the lineup, returning to a more traditional formation after the unsuccessful striker-less experiment. Dean Henderson made his first England start in goal, and Harry Kane returned from injury, allowing for a more conventional attack.
England’s early moments were shaky, with Gomes’ misplaced pass nearly leading to a Finnish goal. However, the team quickly found their rhythm, executing a well-coordinated 17-pass move that culminated in Grealish’s opening goal in the 18th minute. Celebrating his daughter’s recent birth, Grealish marked his return with his fourth goal for the national team.
Despite the early lead, England remained vulnerable defensively. Finland’s Keskinen should have equalised but shot directly at Henderson. Carsley opted to reposition Alexander-Arnold to left-back, which exposed the team defensively at times, with Jensen missing a golden chance to score.
Substitutions in the second half brought renewed energy to the team. Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant free-kick in the 74th minute doubled England’s lead, followed by Rice tapping in a cross from Ollie Watkins shortly before Finland managed to score a consolation goal from a corner.
England now prepares for an upcoming match against Greece on November 14, followed by a fixture against Ireland at Wembley three days later, with Carsley likely to continue at the helm for these crucial games.