England were far more impressive than their 2-1 loss to Greece on Thursday as they triumphed 3-1 in Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.
The Three Lions arrived at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki desperate to improve on their recent outing, with Manchester City star Jack Grealish first to open the scoring in the first half.
It was a calm and composed performance from Lee Carsley’s side who dominated possession and made light work of a road win to spell the end of their October international hiatus.
How the game developed
From the move, England they were unrecognizable from the team that slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Greece just three days earlier. Calm, composed and poised, the Three Lions dominated possession as they continuously drove the ball towards the Finland goal to put pressure on the home side.
Manchester City Jack Grealish was first to find the back of the net, slotting a low ball past Lukas Hradecky after an excellent ball from Angel Gomes. Grealish made a superb run to ensure he was in the perfect place to slot the ball into the back of the net, dancing past the Finnish defenders with ease.
England continued to control the game, pushing the tempo as Finland seemed to sit back. Lee Carsley’s side showed immense chemistry on the pitch, moving fluidly as they sprayed the ball around to drive attacking play.
Beyond the first half, the Finns began to increase the tempo, working hard to win the ball in advanced positions and attempt shots on goal. Chances came, but none good enough to level the scores as they headed into the break trailing 1-0 in England.
England seemed to go back to their flat, with a lack of energy from the football in the second half, failing to create exciting chances and moving without the ball. Finland came close to leveling just before the hour mark when Fredrik Jensen lashed a powerful ball over the net, holding his head in his hands as he watched his effort go wide.
However, the visitors had a chance to double their lead later in the half as Trent Alexander-Arnold sent a stunning free-kick into the back of the net, bending it over the wall and out of reach of the keeper.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice sealed England’s victory in the closing stages of the game, latching on to a ball from Ollie Watkins to fire a low ball into the back of the net, making it 3-0.
Finland grabbed a last-minute chance to pull something back when Arttu Hoskonen headed an effort into the top corner of the net, ending Dean Henderson’s dreams of a clean sheet on his first start in England
It was positive news for the Finns, but ultimately not enough to stop England on their way to victory.
GK: Dean Henderson – 6/10 – The goalscorer received his first England star against Finland and worked hard to impress. He made a great save to prevent Benjamin Kallman from scoring early on and continued to look confident between the sticks.
RB: Kyle Walker – 4/10 – Walker came in at right-back in place of Alexander-Arnold but simply failed to impress in defence. He struggled to pass the ball and was often caught in tricky positions before handing the ball to his opponent.
CB: Marc Guehi – 7/10 – Stability, composure, presence – Guehi brought so much to this England team and represented a real leader in the back four. The Crystal Palace star was simply immense, showing the quality England have often relied on during their Euro 2024 campaign.
CB: John Stones – 5/10 – Stones, however, produced a less impressive performance in the center of defence, making moves that were often too slow to have any impact. He stepped up on a few occasions to take Henderson’s free-kicks, but looked nervous and unconscious for most of the game.
LB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8/10 – Granted, Carsley turned heads when he decided to play Alexander-Arnold at left-back, but the Liverpool star proved he has the ability to perform on either side of the pitch. His new role allowed him to link up well with Bellingham and Grealish, creating dangerous chances for his team. He also added a fine free-kick to his squad in the second half.
DM: Angel Gomes – 7/10 – Gomes was simply fantastic against Finland. His midfield position freed up Declan Rice and allowed the pair to excel up the pitch. Gomes’ assist for Grealish’s opener was sublime, highlighting his ability to read the game.
DM: Declan Rice – 7/10 – Arsenal star Rice looked much more confident alongside Gomes. He made a run into the box and used his skills to get forward, knowing his teammate could cover behind him. His drive forward led to England’s third goal of the game, capping off their victory.
RW: Cole Palmer – 6/10 – Palmer put in an unusually calm performance on the right wing, often being caught offside as the ball flew down the left side of the pitch. His role on the wing seemed to limit his useful skills, silencing the Chelsea star when he could have changed the game.
AM: Jude Bellingham – 6/10 – Bellingham would have been content with Alexander-Arnold’s role at left-back, partnering with his team-mate to drive play down the left side of the pitch. His place in the center of the field did cause problems for his team, but it limited his ability to run and win the ball. A deeper role would have unlocked more of his abilities.
LW: Jack Grealish – 8/10 – Grealish was sorely missed during England’s clash with Greece, which was evident by how quickly he found the back of the net against Finland. His ability to dance around the pitch, maneuver the ball and torment his opponents made him one of the most impressive players on the pitch.
ST: Harry Kane – 5/10 – Only goalkeeper Henderson had fewer touches than Kane in the opening 50 minutes of the game, with the Bayern Munich star finding the ball just 21 times. The forward looked tired and sluggish, once again unable to replicate his club’s performances on the international stage.
Substitutes
SUB: Noni Madueke (68′ for Palmer) – 6/10
SUB: Ollie Watkins (68′ for Kane) – 7/10
SUB: Phil Foden (79′ for Bellingham) – 6/10
SUB: Rico Lewis (79′ for Gomes) – 6/10
SUB: Conor Gallagher (84′ for Rice) – N/A
Subs not used: Jordan Pickford (GK), Nick Pope (GK), Levi Colwill, Valentino Livramento, Anthony Gordon, Dominic Solanke.
manager
Lee Carsley – 6/10 – A much better display from Carsley who turned to a more regular formation to give his side space to use his skills and impress in front of goal. He made good substitutions in the second half when he noticed that the game was stale.
