Second-half goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice saw England beat Finland 3-1 in Helsinki to keep their UEFA Nations League promotion hopes alive.
Jack Grealish fired England ahead from Angel Gomes’ 18th minute pass, before Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 74th minute free-kick doubled their lead.
Declan Rice’s close-range effort wrapped up victory in the 84th minute despite Arttu Hoskonen’s late consolatory header for the Finnish hosts.
Finland remain bottom of League B2 with zero points but England are now level on nine points with Greece, who host Republic of Ireland at 7:45pm UK Time.
Speaking to ITV post-match, Grealish felt that the win was “difficult at times”, but iterated that Lee Carsley deserves to be in contention for the permanent role despite fresh scrutiny.
“Whatever happens with the England manager, people will always say negative stuff.
“Before people were crying out for all attacking players to play and it didn’t work. I don’t get it, it can happen in games. I love coming here, a top, top manager and I love playing for him.”
With manager – Carsley having made six changes after their lacklustre defeat to Greece, England enjoyed a solid start but Finland were resilient in their marking.
England’s sloppy passing however remained an issue which flared up in the seventh minute, as Gomes gave away possession but Topi Keskinen fired wide after an initial shot was blocked out to him.
Jude Bellingham then Trent Alexander-Arnold saw shots blocked as the Three Lions began to press forward more.
Their bravery was soon rewarded in the 18th minute as a neat free-flowing move up the left found Gomes, who slipped the ball through for Grealish to fire in past Lukas Hradecky to put England in front.
Any hopes that England could then kick on and hit a higher tempo were soon flattened as Finland dug deep, during which they pounced upon a 33rd minute pass but Keskinen’s shot was saved by Dean Henderson.
Finland suffered further frustration as Fredrik Jensen’s shot and Benjamin Kallman’s header missed the target, as they failed to restore parity before half-time.
Just six minute into the second half, England almost doubled their lead after Cole Palmer began a move which culminated in a curled shot from him which Lukas Hradecky saved.
Jensen missed a huge chance to equalise in the 56th minute with a rash shot over the bar from Keskinen’s low cutback pass
Hradecky meanwhile block Declan Rice’s shot whilst Gomes fired over from Jude Bellingham’s lay-off pass.
England’s improvement eventually paid off with a 74th minute free-kick, which Alexander-Arnold curled into the top-left corner to double the Three Lions’ lead.
Leo Walta almost reduced Finland’s deficit five minutes later but rifled his shot over the bar.
That wasted chance was punished in the 84th minute as substitute, Ollie Watkins led an English counter-attack to the by-line from which he cut back for Rice to flick in from close-range to wrap up victory.
Carsley’s Three Lions however didn’t escape Helsinki with a clean sheet, courtesy of Hoskonen’s 87th minute consolatory header.
What’s Next?
Finland will visit Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday 14 November (7:45pm BST) in their penultimate match, followed by a home clash against Greece at 6pm CET (5pm UK Time) to conclude the group on Sunday 17 November.
England face a decisive away trip to promotion rivals, Greece in Athens on 14 November (7:45pm UK Time), which they realistically need to win if want automatic promotion.
Carsley’s men then conclude their campaign at home to Ireland on 17 November at Wembley Stadium, London, at 5pm BST.
Teams
Finland – Lukas Hradecky, Jere Uronen, Robert Ivanov, Arttu Hoskonen, Nikolai Alho (Antman 82′), Matti Peltola, Rasmus Schuller (Walta 63′), Glenn Kamara, Topi Keskinen (Pukki 75′), Benjamin Kallman (Pohjanpalo 63′), Frederik Jensen (Lod 75′)
Substitutes: Oliver Antman, Tomas Galvez, Jesse Joronen, Robin Lod, Urho Nissila, Juhani Pikkarainen, Joel Pohjanpalo, Teemu Pukki, Viljami Sinisalo, Adam Stahl, Miro Tenho, Leo Walta
England – Dean Henderson, Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Angel Gomes (Lewis 80′), Declan Rice (Gallagher 85′), Cole Palmer (Madueke 68′), Jude Bellingham (Foden 80′), Jack Grealish, Harry Kane (Watkins 69′)
Substitutes: Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Anthony Gordon, Rico Lewis, Tino Livramento, Noni Madueke, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Levi Colwill, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins
