England bounced back from their disappointing defeat to Greece with a solid 3-1 win over Finland in the UEFA Nations League 2024/25. The match, held in Helsinki on October 13, saw interim manager Lee Carsley make six changes to the starting lineup, which paid off as the team regained control of their Nations League campaign.
Jack Grealish opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a composed finish after a clever pass from Angel Gomes. England dominated possession for much of the game, but Finland did create chances, with Fredrik Jensen missing a clear opportunity to equalise in the second half.
The turning point came in the 74th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning 25-yard free-kick, giving England the cushion they needed. Declan Rice added a third goal in the 84th minute, tapping in a cross from Ollie Watkins, who had come on as a substitute for Harry Kane. Finland managed to score a consolation goal in the 87th minute when Arttu Hoskonen headed home from a corner, but England held on to secure the win.
This victory keeps England’s hopes of promotion to League A alive, as they remain second in Group B2, trailing Greece by three points. Carsley’s decision to revert to a more traditional system after the experimental lineup against Greece received mixed reviews, but the result was exactly what England needed to get back on track.
