2024-10-14 06:15:03
England returned to winning ways against Finland as Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning free-kick to lift Lee Carsley’s side to victory in Helsinki.
The full-back curled an excellent free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards to double England’s lead after the visitors had lost their momentum following Jack Grealish’s first-half opener.
Declan Rice then added a third for England on the counter-attack as Ollie Watkins came off the bench to make an impact after replacing Harry Kane. Finland pulled one back late on through a corner, with Arttu Hoskonen left unmarked.
But the result was a positive one for Carsley overall with the interim manager returning to a more conventional formation following the disastrous defeat at home to Greece on Friday, and three points gets England back on track in their Nations League campaign.
Follow all the latest reaction to England’s win below:
Finland vs England LIVE
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FULL TIME! England bounce back and return to winning ways with 3-1 victory
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87’ GOAL! Hoskonen heads one back for Finland from corner (FIN 1-3 ENG)
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84’ GOAL! Declan Rice taps in Ollie Watkins cross to add third (FIN 0-3 ENG)
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74’ GOAL! Stunning Alexander-Arnold free-kick lights up game (FIN 0-2 ENG)
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68’ CHANGES! Harry Kane and Cole Palmer brought off (FIN 0-1 ENG)
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55’ MISS! Fredrik Jensen spurns golden chance to equalise (FIN 0-1 ENG)
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18’ GOAL! Grealish slots England ahead from Gomes pass (FIN 0-1 ENG)
Lee Carsley says England job ‘deserves world-class coach that has won trophies’
21:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Interim England manager Lee Carsley appears to have distanced himself further from taking on the role permanently after admitting the job “deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies”.
The 50-year-old’s suggestion after Thursday’s surprise defeat to Greece he will “hopefully” be returning to his role with the under-21s following next month’s fixtures was confusing.
And his admission before the 3-1 Nations League win over Finland that he did not formally apply for the vacancy before the August 2 deadline – he was appointed as temporary boss a week later – backed up his continued assertions he is focusing on getting the side through the three international breaks he was tasked with.
But after victory in Helsinki, Carsley gave further insight into how he sees the position by telling ITV 1: “My bosses have made it totally clear what they need from me.
“This job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and been there and done it – and I’m still on the path to doing that.”
FT: Finland 1-3 England
20:30 , Chris Wilson
Some interesting reaction on ITV between Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
Keane says that he “still can’t believe how bad Trent Alexander-Arnold is defensively”, while Wright expresses worry over “how easily England can be broken in respect of the transition”.
Up next
20:00 , Chris Wilson
England will play their final two Nations League group matches in November, with the first taking place against Greece in Athens on 14 November.
The Three Lions take on Ireland three days later on 17 November at Wembley.
Jack Grealish reveals £500 bet with Trent Alexander-Arnold over England free-kick
19:45 , Chris Wilson
Jack Grealish revealed he owes Trent Alexander-Arnold £500 after making a bet with his England team-before he scored his stunning free-kick in the 3-1 win over Finland.
Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant set-piece doubled England’s lead in Helsinki and lit up a difficult second half, before Declan Rice added a late third to give interim manager Lee Carsley a much-needed win.
Grealish, who dedicated his opening goal to his baby daughter after becoming a dad earlier this month, stood over the free-kick with Alexander-Arnold and said he would give the Liverpool defender a bonus if he scored.
Jack Grealish reveals £500 bet with Trent Alexander-Arnold over England free-kick
FT: Finland 1-3 England
19:40 , Chris Wilson
Declan Rice is the final player to speak to ITV, and he emphasises that he is “buzzing” for Grealish.
“He’s a massive boost for England,” he adds.
On his goal, he says that he “saw a load of space to run into and thought, just keep going. If you don’t get in the box you don’t score”.
He adds that he is “delighted” for Lee Carsely.
“Since he’s come in, its been so rereshing. He’s been so honest, so upfront, [he] just says to go out and play with freedom.
“[We’re] really buying into what they want to do,” he says before he leaves.
FT: Finland 1-3 England
19:30 , Chris Wilson
Lee Carsley is next to speak to ITV. He says that England “were looking for a reaction, that was a big thing”.
“I think they’ve shown that they respond well, in the best way. I thought we were a lot better tonight.
“We played a lot more controlled, we had massive possession, created a lot of chances, but I think we can still do better.
“The way they set up, they were well organised. Not a lot of space, we had to create that space, but if you have as much possession as we did then you’re always going to get a chance,” he adds.
On Alexander-Arnold, he says: “It’s important that when we’ve got players of that quality, we play to their strengths”.
On his position, he adds: “I’ve not thought that much about it, I keep saying the same thing.
“It’s a privileged poisiton I’m in, I’m really enjoying it.
“I’m totally in the middle, my bosses have made it clear what they need from me. This job deserves a world class coach who’s won trophies, and I’m still learning.”
England player ratings as Cole Palmer and Harry Kane struggle against Finland
19:14 , Chris Wilson
England had a mixed night against Finland in the Nations League but returned to winning ways under Lee Carsley with victory in Helsinki.
The interim manager returned to a more conventional system following Thursday’s shock defeat at home to Greece and Jack Grealish gave the visitors a deserved lead as he finished off a slick move.
England rather lost their way in the second half, with Harry Kane and Cole Palmer struggling in an attack that didn’t always click into life, and Fredrik Jensen should have equalised for the hosts.
But the Finland forward blazed over from inside yards before Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled England’s lead with an excellent free-kick in the 74th minute, firing into the top corner from 25 yards.
Declan Rice added a third, following a strong run from substitue Ollie Watkins, before Finland pulled one back late on following a corner to spoil Dean Henderson’s clean sheet.
England player ratings as Cole Palmer and Harry Kane struggle against Finland
FT: Finland 1-3 England
19:10 , Chris Wilson
Jack Grealish is the first to speak to ITV. He says that England “probably could’ve had a few more” tonight.
“It was difficult at times in the first half. We went in at half-time with a one goal lead and then we dominated.
“At the end, [we were] a bit gutted to concede from a set piece, but we needed a win.”
On his goal, he says that it “all comes from the manager, [he] lets me play with that freedom.
“We know what a top player he is,” he adds regarding Angel Gomes.
Grealish adds that he joked to Alexander-Arnold that “if you score this I’ll give you 500 quid, and he slapped it top bins”.
“I don’t think its been difficult. Whatever happens, there’ll always be some people saying stuff.
“In my honest opinion I don’t really get it. Hes a top, top manager, I love playing for him,” he says regarding Lee Carsley.
Nations League – League B Group 2
19:07 , Chris Wilson
With that win, England remain second in League B Group 2, level on nine points with Greece, who play Ireland later today (with kick-off at 7.45pm BST). Greece currently sit ahead of the Three Lions on goal difference.
The race for promotion may well hinge on England’s result in Athens in November.
FULL-TIME! Finland 1-3 England
19:05 , Miguel Delaney in Helsinki
“A decent win for England but not exactly a convincing one.
“Certainly, this international break has probably diluted Lee Carsley’s arguments for the job a little – if he even wants it. If he does stay, though, it is by now clear that Angel Gomes – or a player like Angel Gomes is essential to the team’s make-up. It is even more clear that he is going to have figure out complementary configurations for this attack.
“That is almost the ‘problem’ of having so many good players. There’s pressure to play them all but they don’t necessarily work well together. Here, despite all the clamour for younger talent, Jack Grealish showed he may be the best suited for Carsley’s approach. He summed that up with a fine goal, that set England on the way to a 3-1 win.
“They still cough up a lot, though, and it’s a slight concern that Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham were both relatively ineffective. Trent Alexander-Arnold is another, however, who looks like he revels under Carsley.”
FULL-TIME! Finland 1-3 England
19:00 , Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME! Finland 1-3 England
18:54 , Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME!
The referee brings the game to an end in Helsinki, and England take the three points in what was a welcome display after the loss against Greece.
Lee Carsley’s side stay second in their Nations League group.
Finland 1-3 England
18:53 , Chris Wilson
93 mins
Grealish drives into the box and tries to get the shot away, but it’s deflected.
Gallagher almost gets into trouble on the edge of his box but does well to get the pass away.
Finland 1-3 England
18:52 , Chris Wilson
92 mins
Both teams are still trying to create something in attack. Gallagher – who replaced Rice just after his goal – strides forward but can’t make anything of it.
Finland come on the attack themselves as Lod shifts it on to Pohjanpalo, but his shot from distance is charged down.
Finland 1-3 England
18:49 , Chris Wilson
90 mins
More good work from Antman as he swings in the cross, but Guehi does equally well to clear.
England counter, led by Madueke once again, before Grealish’s cross almost finds Foden free in the box.
There’ll be four minutes of added time in Helsinki.
Finland 1-3 England
18:47 , Chris Wilson
88 mins
Madueke is really trying to make something happen and he gets free in the box before rifling a shot against the side-netting.
GOAL! Finland 1-3 England
18:47 , Chris Wilson
87 mins
GOAL!
Pukki wins a late corner off Walker and Finland have a chance for a consolation.
Walta swings it in and Hoskonen loses his marker at the front post, and he nods in unchallenged!
So easy for Finland.
GOAL! Finland 0-3 England
18:44 , Chris Wilson
84 mins
GOAL! Simple stuff from England.
Watkins receives the ball in the channel on the left and takes on his man. He beats him down the outside and cuts a pass back across the face of the goal, and Declan Rice is there to tap it in past Hradecky.
Finland 0-2 England
18:43 , Chris Wilson
83 mins
Kamara and Pukki try and combine for Finland but the latter’s ball is cut out and England launch a counter…
Finland 0-2 England
18:41 , Chris Wilson
81 mins
England break and Grealish carries towards the box before feeding Foden. He tries to square it to Watkins, but the pass it cut out.
Alho makes way for Oliver Antman for Finland.
Finland 0-2 England
18:39 , Chris Wilson
79 mins
Surely the points are secured now. Madueke skips past a challenge and lays it off to Alexander-Arnold, who plays a lovely diagonal cross that is eventually headed straight at Hradecky.
England bring on Rico Lewis and Phil Foden for Gomes and Bellingham.
Finland 0-2 England
18:36 , Chris Wilson
77 mins
Bellingham works a shooting opportunity from an angle and he lashes it against the side-netting.
Finland 0-2 England
18:35 , Chris Wilson
76 mins
Finland respond by bringing on Teemu Pukki and Robin Lod for Jensen and Keskinen.
GOAL! Finland 0-2 England
18:34 , Chris Wilson
74 mins
GOAL!
A brilliant effort as Alexander-Arnold steps up and curls his effort into the top corner from 22 yards. He made it look so easy.
Finland 0-1 England
18:33 , Chris Wilson
74 mins
England win a free-kick near the edge of the box and it’s a decent shooting opportunity as Alexander-Arnold steps over it.
Finland 0-1 England
18:32 , Chris Wilson
72 mins
Madueke skips past a challenge and almost squares a perfect pass to Watkins, but it’s cut out at the last minute.
Finland 0-1 England
18:30 , Chris Wilson
70 mins
Walker hangs up a cross that Watkins can’t get a head to, before Grealish wins a corner after his cross is blocked.
Finland 0-1 England
18:28 , Chris Wilson
68 mins
England are still struggling to break down the low block, but at least they’re trying something now as Alexander-Arnold tries to chip a through ball to Bellingham, but Hradecky collects.
Palmer and Kane make way for Noni Madueke and Ollie Watkins.
Finland 0-1 England
18:26 , Chris Wilson
67 mins
All too pedestrian from both sides at the moment, though England are the guiltier party. Palmer and Kane try to force the issue, but England recycle it backwards.
Noni Madueke is among the subs getting ready.
Finland 0-1 England
18:24 , Chris Wilson
65 mins
Those changes prompt Finland’s first bit of sustained possession in this half, but they can’t make anything of it yet.
Finland 0-1 England
18:23 , Chris Wilson
63 mins
Angel Gomes is the latest to try the effort from distance, but it goes wide as he tried to curl in.
Finland make two changes, as Schuller and Kallman make way for Leo Walta and Joel Pohjanpalo.
Finland 0-1 England
18:21 , Chris Wilson
61 mins
We’ll see the first subs of the evening soon. England do look like they need to change something – they’re really lacking that final bit of quality at the moment.
Finland 0-1 England
18:18 , Chris Wilson
58 mins
Other than the goal, that was by far the best chance of the game so far. Jensen can’t believe he’s missed.
Plenty more possession from England but they’re really struggling to unlock the Finland defence. Rice collects the loose ball on the edge of the box and drives a low shot straight at Hradecky.
Finland 0-1 England
18:16 , Chris Wilson
56 mins
CLOSE!
Palmer uses his body well after a sloppy pass from Bellingham, but the chance goes begging again after Kane isn’t alert enough.
Finland launch a counter-attack and Keskinen bursts into the left-hand side of the box before fizzing in a cutback. Kallman misses it but it’s on a plate for Jensen, and he blasts over from around six yards!
Finland 0-1 England
18:14 , Chris Wilson
54 mins
Very comfortable again for England at the moment. Kane holds up play and threads a lovely through ball into the path of the overlapping Walker, but he doesn’t have many options in the box and the chance goes begging.
‘A curious England performance’
18:13 , Miguel Delaney in Helsinki
“A curious England performance from England in Helsinki. They’re winning, and they’ve obviously been much better than against Greece on Thursday, but that isn’t necessarily the bar. The one thing that has already seemed clear from Carsley’s four games is that they look so much closer to that classic positional game approach with Gomes in the team. He may not be perfect at – as seen with one bad pass backwards – but he is better than anyone England have. The pass through for Grealish’s fine goal was divine. That is Carsley football at its best. The concern is they other side, as they have coughed up a lot of chances to a moderate side.”
Finland 0-1 England
18:10 , Chris Wilson
52 mins
Good combination from Walker and Palmer as the latter releases Walker into the box before the City man’s cutback finds its way back to Palmer. He gets his shot through the bodies in the box, but it’s too close to Hradecky.
Finland 0-1 England
18:09 , Chris Wilson
50 mins
Alexander-Arnold picks out Bellingham’s overlapping run, but it’s good defending from Hoskonen to stand up to the Madrid man’s dribble into the box.
Moments later, Alexander-Arnold tests Hradecky from distance, but it’s a simple save.
Finland 0-1 England
18:08 , Chris Wilson
48 mins
Alexander-Arnold tries to whip it in with the outside of his foot but it goes straight behind for a goal kick.
England win possession back quickly though.
Finland 0-1 England
18:07 , Chris Wilson
47 mins
Bellingham is dispossessed by Keskinen in the middle of the park, and he surges towards the box before laying it off to Kallman, but the pass was poor and it runs behind the striker.
KICK-OFF! Finland 0-1 England
18:04 , Chris Wilson
Finland get the second half started in Helsinki.
HT: Finland 0-1 England
18:04 , Chris Wilson
The two team are re-emerging from the tunnel now, so kick-off is moments away.
HALF-TIME! Finland 0-1 England
18:02 , Chris Wilson
All in all, that was an easy half for Lee Carsley’s men.
The scoreline doesn’t flatter them, and Finland have had their chances, but England were very comfortable for huge swathes of that opening 45.
The Three Lions need to put a little bit of sparkle on this performance though, to add to what was a well-worked goal from Jack Grealish.
HALF-TIME! Finland 0-1 England
17:56 , Chris Wilson
HALF-TIME! Finland 0-1 England
17:49 , Chris Wilson
47 mins
The rest of the half comes and goes without anything notable happening bar an early cross that ws flashed across goal by Kallman.
The half comes to an end and it’s been fairly simple for England as they head into the break ahead.
Finland 0-1 England
17:47 , Chris Wilson
45 mins
Walker drags down Kamara on the counter but no yellow is given yet!
Jensen somehow makes it through three England shirts before the ball is fed in to Kallman on the edge of the box, but his shot is straight at Henderson. He was offside anyway.
There’ll be two minutes of added time.
Finland 0-1 England
17:45 , Chris Wilson
44 mins
Lovely play from Rice to get the ball out and evade the press, and his pass between the lines releases Alexander-Arnold. He surges towards the box and squares it to Bellingham, whose touch is a little heavy, and he can’t force the shooting chance.
Finland 0-1 England
17:43 , Chris Wilson
42 mins
Plenty of space for Grealish as he receives on the left-hand edge of the box, but he doesn’t have a lot of support (or supporting runs).
The pass from Gomes is cut out and Walker concedes the foul to end the counter.
Finland 0-1 England
17:42 , Chris Wilson
40 mins
Finland were enjoying some sustained possession there but it ends as Ahlo’s early cross drops straight to Walker.
Moments later, another early cross is played in, this time to Kallman, but he can’t get enough power on the header.
Finland 0-1 England
17:40 , Chris Wilson
38 mins
Dangerous move from Finland as the diagonal pass is played to hAlo, who heads down to Jensen. His touch is good and it takes him past Alexander-Arnold, but he blasts wide of the near post on the half-volley.
Finland 0-1 England
17:37 , Chris Wilson
35 mins
A half chance for England as Bellingham plays a lovely diagonal to Rice, who brings it down on the edge of the six-yard box, but he can’t get clean contact on the shot and it’s deflected behind.
Palmer’s corner is a good one, but Rice can’t divert the header goalwards.
Finland 0-1 England
17:35 , Chris Wilson
33 mins
Alexander-Arnold is providing plenty of width from left-back, as opposed to the inverted role he was playing against Ireland last month.
Finland break and it’s two-v-three as Keskinen carries, but he ends up rifling a shot straight at Henderson while under pressure from Stones.
Finland 0-1 England
17:33 , Chris Wilson
31 mins
England cut out another Finland attack and try to launch one of their own, with Kane holding up well on halfway before Palmer plays a sloppy through ball to Bellingham, which itself is cut out.
Finland 0-1 England
17:31 , Chris Wilson
29 mins
Encouraging signs from Finland as they string a few passes together on the edge of the England box before Keskinen is given offside.
Moments later, his cross is deflected behind for a corner after a good block from Walker.
Alho takes but it fails to beat Alexander-Arnold as the first defender.
Finland 0-1 England
17:29 , Chris Wilson
27 mins
There’s a bit of a lull in activity over the last few minutes, before Angel Gomes goes down to receive some treatment.
77 per cent possession for England so far in Helsinki.
Finland 0-1 England
17:27 , Chris Wilson
25 mins
A warning for England as Keskinen’s cross narrowly misses Kallman.
Finland 0-1 England
17:25 , Chris Wilson
23 mins
England absolutely dominant in possession at the moment. Not much in the way of attacking threat since their goal, but they look like they’re biding their time ominously.
Finland 0-1 England
17:23 , Chris Wilson
20 mins
England want another, and quickly, but Kane is penalised around halfway.
There’s some good covering work from Guehi to win the foot race as he ran towards his own goal, but Henderson clears it straight to a Finnish shirt.
GOAL! Finland 0-1 England
17:20 , Chris Wilson
18 mins
GOAL! Lovely stuff from England.
Grealish, Kane and Gomes combine on the edge of the box and Gomes manages to spin and slip through a brilliant reverse through ball into the path of the onrushing Grealish, who is clean through and opens his body up to slot past Hradecky into the far corner.
Finland 0-0 England
17:19 , Chris Wilson
17 mins
Finland are risking plenty with their high line, but England haven’t managed to test it yet.
Or have they?
Finland 0-0 England
17:17 , Chris Wilson
16 mins
Better again from England as Kane and Grealish combine on the edge of the box before the latter finds Gomes and then Alexander-Arnold, but the full-back’s pass to Palmer is just short.
Finland 0-0 England
17:16 , Chris Wilson
14 mins
Great workfrom Guehi to shepherd the attacker away from the ball and then to keep possession, and now England build again. There aren’t many forward runs ahead of Bellingham as he receives near halfway though.
Finland 0-0 England
17:14 , Chris Wilson
12 mins
Sloppy from Kane as his raking pass to Palmer is miles off, but it’s the right idea.
Finland 0-0 England
17:12 , Chris Wilson
10 mins
Better from England as Bellingham picks it up and shifts it on to Grealish. The City man returns the pass and Bellingham creates some space to get the shot away in the box, but it’s put behind for a corner.
Palmer delivers the set-piece but it’s headed away, before Alexander-Arnold’s shot from outside of the box is deflected away.
Finland 0-0 England
17:10 , Chris Wilson
8 mins
CLOSE!
The first real chance goes to Finland as Gomes gives it away in midfield. It’s picked up and shipped on to Keskinen, who looks clean through but eventually has the shot blocked.
Finland 0-0 England
17:08 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
No real attacking threat from either side yet. Finland’s press is forcing England backwards more than they’d like though.
Finland 0-0 England
17:05 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
Kane drops deep to receive and he ships it on to Rice, who tries to exchange passes with Palmer but can’t get onto the end of the Chelsea man’s through ball.
Finland 0-0 England
17:04 , Chris Wilson
2 mins
The first foray forward from England ends with Bellingham clipping a cross straight to Hradecky.
Finland 0-0 England
17:03 , Chris Wilson
2 min
It is indeed Alexander-Arnold at left-back in the early stages. England are happy to just keep possession at the moment.
KICK-OFF! Finland 0-0 England
17:01 , Chris Wilson
The national anthems come and go and the away side get us underway in Helsinki.
Finland vs England LIVE
16:55 , Chris Wilson
The teams are coming out of the tunnel at the Olympic Stadium and we’re around five minutes from kick-off.
Can England produce a dominant display to dispel the doubts around Lee Carsley? He may claim he never applied for the permanent job anyway, but a big win here would do his reputation no harm.
Team news
15:56 , Chris Wilson
Lee Carsley has made six changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Greece in midweek. In goal, Dean Henderson replaces Jordan Pickford.
In defence, Kyle Walker and Marc Guehi replace Rico Lewis and Levi Colwill, while Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon are replaced in midfield by Jack Grealish and Angel Gomes. There’s a re-shuffle in midfield, with Jude Bellingham dropping back from the more attacking role he had last time out; Cole Palmer will presumably be on the right wing this time too.
In attack, Harry Kane plays as a lone striker as Phil Foden drops to the bench.
Finland vs England LIVE
13:01 , Chris Wilson
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Nations League match between England and Finland in Helsinki.
The Three Lions look to take three points against the side that sit bottom of their group as they bid to recover from the midweek loss against Greece.
We’ll have all the latest build-up and updates here.
