England’s Three Lions put the shocking defeat at Wembley in the hands of Greece on Thursday behind them with a convincing 3-1 triumph over Finland in Helsinki on Sunday.
It has been a mixed international break for England, which lacked structure and cohesion during their 2-1 home loss to Greece on Thursday. However, it showed that they have gone past that level with an improved display on Sunday.
Finland tried penetrating England’s fragile defence with their promising start to the fixtures, with the Three Lions on an unbeaten run in twelve head-to-head meetings against The Egale-Owls – but was repelled at every point.
Jack Grealish notched England’s opener after eighteen minutes when he dispatched an Angel Gomes pass behind Lukas Hradecky for his second goal in three matches since he made his return to the fold after the Euros overlook.
Sitting bottom of Group B2 with a possibility of relegation, Finland upped the ante after England’s first goal, and every attempt at an equalizer was unable to yield anything tangible.
For England, chances were at a premium, and they found the net for the second of the day as Trent Alexander-Arnold lifted a swift free-kick over the wall into the top corner at the seventy-fourth-minute mark.
Substitute Ollie Watkins outsmarted his marker on the left and squared across Finland’s goal for Arsenal’s Declan Rice to tap in England’s third.
England looked poised for a third clean sheet in four matches under Lee Carsley before Arttu Hoskonen’s header at the near post off Leo Walta’s corner gave the hosts a goal that was a mere consolation.
The win comfortably sent England equal with Greece on nine points at the summit of the UEFA Nations League Group B2 log while it condemned Finlany to relegation – an end to a three-season sting in League B.
