An ingenious goal by full debutant Curtis Jones capped an impressive England victory in Greece as the Three Lions moved top of their group and ensured promotion to League A is in their hands on the final matchday on Sunday.
Facing opponents who had not lost at home for a year and have the most wins in the competition of any team, the visitors took the lead when Ollie Watkins pounced after seven minutes but had goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to thank before Jude Bellingham’s strike went in via a post and Odysseas Vlachodimos’ back 13 minutes from time.
Liverpool midfielder Jones flicked in the third with a brilliant backheel from substitute Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass six minutes later.
England, who took revenge for their 2-1 home defeat to Greece at Wembley on October 10, will earn promotion if they win at home to the Republic of Ireland on Sunday (5pm GMT).
WHAT A GOAL FROM CURTIS JONES! 💥
A beautiful little flick puts England three clear! 🏴🏴🏴#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | @LFC pic.twitter.com/lkmbDJzRqO
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Greece vs England
In his penultimate match before Thomas Tuchel succeeds him in 2025, interim manager Lee Carsley – whose decision to play without a recognised striker backfired when Greece won the first fixture between the teams – offered a surprise before the start by dropping Harry Kane.
England’s 68-goal all-time top scorer had been injured for the first encounter but Carsley said his place on the bench in Athens was a chance to give the relatively inexperienced Watkins experience of a high-pressure game.
Greece had been on a five-game winning run and needed a point to secure automatic promotion at England’s expense but Watkins’ patient movement to slot in Noni Madueke’s cross provided an early affirmation of Carsley’s plan.
2-0 to England! 🏴
Bellingham’s strike bounces off the post, onto Vlachodimos and into the net#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/PPRKX35Gft
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
Pickford made a fine stop to turn a fierce close-range shot from Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas behind in Greece’s best chance of the first half, although Watkins could have doubled the advantage when he burst clear but lost control just before half-time.
Bellingham hit a post with a header nine minutes after the break and Pickford intervened exceptionally again to turn Fotis Ioannidis’s shot away before Carsley sent on Kane, Jarrod Bowen and debutant Morgan Rogers after 66 minutes.
The attacking trio were in good time to admire Bellingham’s driving run and fizzing low shot as he approached the penalty area, rattling the woodwork and coming off unfortunate goalkeeper Vlachodimos.
That’s why Ollie Watkins is in the team! ⚽️#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | @AVFCOfficial | @England pic.twitter.com/GtJgbPHpnz
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
Nations League fixtures
With the head-to-head record between the teams against each other potentially coming down to margins of victory, Jones’ inspired third put the top of the table out of Greece’s control.
Ivan Jovanovic’s side play in Finland at the same time as England host Ireland, when Greece must hope to have the better result if they are to avoid the promotion play-offs in March.
