Greece beat England for the primary time as striker Vangelis Pavlidis’s double earned the guests a richly-deserved 2-1 victory to place them answerable for Nations League Group B2 at Wembley on Thursday.
Whereas Pavlidis’s winner within the fourth minute of stoppage time sparked wild celebrations amongst the Greek followers, England’s had been left surprised as stand-in supervisor Lee Carsley acquired a sobering actuality test.
Two victories since Gareth Southgate stood down had raised Carsley’s inventory as a probable full-time substitute, however after a this ragged defeat, his hopes could have dwindled.
Pavlidis had given his facet the lead early within the second half with a scientific end and Greece had three targets dominated out in opposition to an England facet that began with an experimental-looking attacking formation however misfired badly.
Jude Bellingham regarded to have rescued his facet when he lashed residence an 87th-minute equaliser with England’s second shot on course, however there was one other twist because the excellent Pavlidis punished some woeful defending to shoot previous Jordan Pickford from shut vary.
Greece high the desk with a most 9 factors whereas England’s first defeat beneath Carsley left them second with six.
Carsley, who was with out injured captain Harry Kane, stood by his resolution to start out with no recognised striker in a five-man assault, though he admitted it had failed.
“I believe with the gamers we’ve, we’ve to be brave with our methods and be artistic,” he instructed reporters. “It was my concept and I take the blame for that. It positively didn’t come off however we shouldn’t rule out making an attempt one thing totally different.”
POIGNANT EVENING
It was a poignant night for Greece with a minute’s silence held earlier than kickoff for his or her former worldwide George Baldock who died, aged 31, this week.
“It a really big day and match for us. Our ideas are with George (Baldock). However we’re professionals and needed to play the match,” Pavlidis mentioned. “We gave our soul for him tonight. In the present day isn’t a day to speak about soccer.”
After the customarily conservative nature of England’s soccer beneath Southgate there was a buzz of anticipation round Wembley as Carsley, who has been put in cost for the Nations League video games, picked in-form Cole Palmer.
The Chelsea participant, who scored England’s equaliser within the Euro 2024 last defeat in opposition to Spain instead, began simply behind pressure 9 Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Bellingham stung Greek keeper Vlachodimos Odysseas’s fingers with a ferocious dipping drive and Palmer blazed wastefully over the crossbar when well-placed.
However for all England’s attacking potential, it was Greece who had the higher first-half alternatives.
Pavlidis curled one effort large earlier than residence keeper Pickford nearly gifted Greece the lead, dropping the ball on the sting of his space and having his blushes spared by an excellent goal-line clearance by Levi Colwill.
Pickford then flapped at a excessive ball and Konstantinos Mavropanos headed into the web however was dominated offside.
England started the second half in torpid style and Greece took the lead within the forty ninth minute as Pavlidis confirmed nice footwork to dispatch a low shot previous Pickford regardless of being hemmed in by England defenders.
Giorgos Masouras and Pavlidis then had targets dominated out by VAR and lots of England followers had already headed for residence by the point Bellingham’s shot beat Odyyseas Vlachodimos.
Greece had been undaunted although and Pavlidis made positive of victory on the tenth try in opposition to England.
