Greece 0-3 England: Three Lions romp to victory to seize control of Nations League promotion hopes

England redeemed themselves for an unusual match against Greece by taking charge of their chances for automatic promotion from Group B2 in the Nations League. They secured a convincing 3-0 win in Athens, highlighted by a brilliant back-heeled goal from Curtis Jones.

If Lee Carsley finishes his time as interim manager with a win over the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, new coach Thomas Tuchel will be able to start his tenure next March without needing to face a playoff. Instead, he will kick things off with a fresh round of World Cup Qualifiers.

The Three Lions, who lost to Greece at home last month, kicked things off in the best possible way. Ollie Watkins made a strong case for his selection by scoring from just in front of the goal, thanks to some outstanding teamwork between Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham on the right side (7).

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

Substitutes: Giannoulis (6), Pelkas (7), Konstantelias (not available), Mantalos (not available), Ioannidis (6).

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

Substitutes: Gibbs-White (6), Kane (6), Hall (6), Rogers (7), Bowen (6).

Player of the game: Jude Bellingham.

Greece had previously suffered defeats in all four of their home matches against England, but they were aware that a draw would guarantee their automatic advancement to the top level of the Nations League. Fotis Ioannidis had the best opportunity for Greece, yet the impressive Jordan Pickford managed to deflect his shot around the goalpost.

England weathered a phase of intense pressure before securing the goals needed to establish dominance in the group. Bellingham made an impressive run and unleashed a shot that hit the post and then bounced in off the unfortunate goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos.

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England edged past Greece due to a better head-to-head record, and Jones capped off a remarkable win with a daring flick off a cross from substitute Morgan Gibbs-White. If England can match or improve upon Greece's outcome in the last round of matches, they will secure promotion to League A.

Carsley mentioned, "We discussed yesterday the importance of matching their energy, enthusiasm, and motivation. We recognized that the game would be tough, as we experienced at Wembley. Therefore, it was crucial for us to be as creative as possible."

"I believe the best part of tonight’s performance was how much control we maintained throughout the game. The team's formation was solid, we dominated possession, and we generated numerous scoring opportunities."

How England Took Charge Of Their Future

Tuchel will begin his time in charge in under 50 days, and it appears he will steer clear of any unwelcome interruptions to the schedule. During the second half, England played with great intensity, driven by their need to score, which allowed them to move ahead of their rivals.

Before Vlachodimos faced his unfortunate moment, Rico Lewis forced a solid save, and then Bellingham nearly scored when his header hit the post after another inviting cross from Madueke.

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England is currently in a state of uncertainty as they navigate this transitional phase. There's been backlash against the choice to have Tuchel begin his role on January 1, and he understands the importance of making a strong impression during his first training camp in March.

Carlsey emphasized the importance of fostering more leadership within the team as a reason for allowing Watkins to start instead of Harry Kane, highlighting Watkins' skill in breaking through defensive lines. He urged his players to mitigate the unfriendly environment in Athens, focusing on their main objective of clinching the World Cup title.

At the moment, it seems like a distant prospect, but during his time leading the team, Carsley has aimed to transform England for the era following Gareth Southgate. Kyle Walker took on the captaincy for just the third time in his 92 matches, yet five players in the starting lineup had less than 10 caps each.

With nine players missing from the team, they lost a total of 241 caps in experience. However, Watkins' quick goal helped calm any anxiety. This was the first goal Greece has allowed on their home ground in a year. They almost equalized when Kostas Tsimikas made a good play down the left, forcing Pickford to make a clever save at his near post.

Madueke's impressive attacking play was a highlight of the first half, but Bellingham truly shone throughout the game, especially with his role in England's second goal. This showcased the depth of talent that Tuchel has at his disposal, exemplified by Jones' encouraging flick.

Carsley's daring choice didn’t pay off last month, but this time it did. England is on track for promotion.

Carsley Praises Impressive Debutants

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Temporary England manager Lee Carsley:

We're heading in the right direction. There’s a crucial match at Wembley this Sunday. It's essential that we take the time to recuperate and prepare for it.

It was crucial for the players to utilize their strengths. The focus was on giving them a chance to shine, and we definitely witnessed that this evening.

"Curtis [Jones] is an exceptional talent, and I couldn't be happier for him. These athletes consistently perform at a high level in the Premier League. Morgan Rogers has been impressive for Villa and might have earned a spot on the senior team earlier."

In my opinion, if we want to give these players the best chance to win the World Cup, they need to gain as much experience as possible. This decision to leave Harry out was not a criticism of him. He will definitely be in the starting lineup for the next match. There are plenty of positive takeaways from that performance.

In the past, we've demonstrated that our team is filled with talented players. The main challenge now is figuring out how to integrate everyone and determine their positions. However, I believe we’ve managed to maintain a good balance with all this talent. Tonight, there were many impressive performances and a true team effort, and I hope we can replicate that at Wembley.

Jude Bellingham: Player Of The Match

Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham expressed, "It was a significant victory. There was a lot of focus on those who were absent, but the players who participated were incredible. I feel really proud of the team tonight."

If we hadn't performed well or achieved the win, we could have easily come up with countless excuses. However, the guys went out there and handled their tasks with great professionalism.

"We’ve reclaimed our position at the forefront of the group, returning to our rightful place."

Bellingham stated, "We maintained solid defensive organization and demonstrated resilience. The coaching staff created a game plan that suited this match perfectly. When we had the ball, we took risks and tried different tactics, no matter the outcome."

"Our team is youthful and energetic. Each of us is performing well at our respective clubs, bringing a spark to the game. We all enjoy taking the initiative and expressing our creativity on the field, which means we may occasionally give away possession."

It was incredible that, regardless of the number of times we faced setbacks, we continued to push forward. In the end, what truly mattered was our determination to keep trying.

A Great Night For England

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Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett reporting from Athens:

It was a fantastic night for England, and for Lee Carsley, who made a bold decision by keeping Harry Kane on the sidelines. However, the choice paid off when Ollie Watkins, who took Kane’s spot, scored just seven minutes into the match, leading to a decisive victory for England.

Curtis Jones will always cherish his time in Athens, particularly because it was the night he made his first appearance for the senior team and scored a stunning goal. It will be hard to top that moment in the rest of his journey with England.

Jude Bellingham delivered another impressive performance, playing a key role in much of England's offensive play. However, what should have been a well-deserved goal for him will instead be recorded as an own goal by Vlachodimos.

To be honest, the 3-0 scoreline is a bit generous to England. The match could have turned out differently if Jordan Pickford hadn't pulled off two incredible saves while the game was still tight.

However, the reality is that England currently leads their Nations League group and is in a strong position to earn a return to the top tier of Group A, unless there is an unexpected defeat against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday.

In England's last Nations League match, which will also be Lee Carsley's final game as coach, the Republic of Ireland is set to come to Wembley on Sunday, with the match starting at 5 PM.