Greece 0-3 England – Curtis Jones scores on debut as Three Lions win to maneuver prime of UEFA Nations League group – Eurosport

Curtis Jones scored on his England debut as Lee Carsley’s aspect sealed a 3-0 win over Greece to take management of UEFA Nations League Group B2 forward of the ultimate league section sport.

Figuring out they needed to win in Athens to maintain their hopes of topping the group alive and avoiding an undesirable two-legged promotion play-off in March, England began quick and shortly took management of the tie via Ollie Watkins’ early strike.

Watkins, who was surprisingly picked to begin over file goalscorer Harry Kane, steered residence a cross from the energetic Noni Madueke to place The Three Lions forward on seven minutes.

The Aston Villa striker had an incredible likelihood to double England’s lead on the stroke of half-time when he was put via on purpose earlier than shedding the ball, and early within the second half Rico Lewis and Jude Bellingham got here near a second.

Within the closing phases, Greece pressed for an equaliser however Bellingham had different concepts, realizing {that a} two-goal cushion was essential for England of their seek for computerized promotion.

The Actual Madrid star made a driving run via midfield and located area on the sting of the field earlier than unleashing a low strike, which crashed off the submit, hit the goalkeeper on the rebound and trickled over the road.

Three minutes later, substitute Morgan Gibbs-White discovered Jones within the field and he slotted residence for a memorable debut purpose and England’s third.

Carsley’s aspect at the moment are prime of the group of Group B2 and are in pole place to qualify for promotion to League A, ought to they beat Eire at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

A victory would have been nice for England, however victory with a three-goal cushion has lifted The Three Lions above Greece on purpose distinction and now issues are in their very own arms as they put together to face Republic of Eire of their remaining Group B2 sport.

Ought to they get the job achieved and seal computerized qualification to League A, they’ll skip a two-legged play-off subsequent 12 months, which you’d think about incoming boss Thomas Tuchel – who begins his position in lower than 50 days – can be determined to keep away from.

Plenty of plaudits will go to Carsley for his courageous staff choice and people gamers who stepped up within the absence of loads of first-team gamers – and rightly so – however Jordan Pickford made two essential stops to disclaim Greece an equaliser. With out them, this sport might have gone very in another way for England.

He made a robust save on the half-hour mark to thwart Premier League rival Konstantinos Tsimikas, earlier than denying Fotis Ioannidis simply after an hour. Along with these stops, he commanded his field expertly and was good with the ball at his toes. He didn’t put a foot flawed in Athens and never for the primary time in an England shirt.

Greece: Vlachodimos 4, Rota 5, Mavropanos 6, Koulierakis 7, Tsimikas 6, Siopis 6, Zafeiris 5, Masouras 5, Bakasetas 6, Tzolis 6, Pavlidis 5

Subs: Mandas, Tzolakis, Giannoulis, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Hatzidakos, Palkas, Konstantelias, Mantalos, Alexandropoulos, Douvikas, Ioannidis

England: Pickford 9, Walker 7, Konsa 6, Guehi 7, Lewis 7, Gallagher 7, Jones 8, Madueke 8, Bellingham 8, Gordon 6, Watkins 8

Subs: Gibbs-White 6, Kane 6, Corridor 6, Rogers 6, Bowen 6

7’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-1 ENGLAND (WATKINS): And that is why he is within the staff! Jude Bellingham threads a move down the appropriate for Madueke to chase, and he shifts previous his man and pulls again a low cross for Watkins to fit residence into a virtually empty web. What a begin by The Three Lions!

29’ – WHAT A SAVE FROM PICKFORD! Tsimikas finds room within the field and blasts an effort at Pickford’s entrance submit however the Everton goalkeeper will get a robust arm to the shot – which involves him as fast as a flash – and beats the ball away. Walker is having a phrase with Madueke, who has been good offensively thus far however failed to trace the left-back.

45’+2 – AN ENGLAND CHANCE GOES BEGGING! Watkins appears to be via on purpose, however he loses the ball which slows down as he tries to drive into the penalty space. An excellent alternative for England to double their lead on the stroke of half-time.

52’ – LEWIS DENIED! After some good build-up play on the left via Gordon, England change the ball to Madueke on the appropriate, and he finds Lewis however his fierce shot contained in the field is blocked. One other good likelihood for 2-0!

54’ – ENGLAND HIT THE POST! A cross is available in from the appropriate and Bellingham glances it goal-bound however the goalkeeper thinks it is going vast, till it bounces off the woodwork.

63’ – ANOTHER BIG SAVE FROM PICKFORD! That is his second essential cease to guard England’s lead. It is substitute Fotis Ioannidis with an incredible strike however Pickford will get simply sufficient on it to steer the ball behind for a nook.

79’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-2 ENGLAND (VLACHODIMOS OWN GOAL): England double their lead towards the run of play! Bellingham drives in direction of purpose, finds area and pulls the set off on a low shot which crashes off the foot of the submit, hits the goalkeeper on the again on the rebound and trickles over the road.

83’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-3 ENGLAND (JONES): A dream debut for Jones who scores England’s third! In a silky Three Lions transfer. Gibbs-White, who has been on the pitch for minutes, pulls a cross again for Jones to fit residence.

• Curtis Jones is the primary Liverpool participant to attain on his England debut since Sammy Lee again in November 1982, additionally in an away sport towards Greece.
• At 20 years and 67 days, Lewis Corridor is the youngest Newcastle United participant to look for England in a aggressive worldwide since Jock Rutherford in 1904 in a Residence Nations match (19 years & 180 days).