Jones rankings on debut as England win in Greece to transport best of crew

Curtis Jones scored on his England debut as Lee Carsley’s aspect sealed a 3-0 win over Greece to take keep an eye on of UEFA Countries League Workforce B2 forward of the general league section recreation.

Figuring out they needed to win in Athens to stay their hopes of topping the crowd alive and averting an undesirable two-legged promotion play-off in March, England began speedy and temporarily took keep an eye on of the tie via Ollie Watkins’ early strike.

Watkins, who was once unusually picked to begin over report goalscorer Harry Kane, suggested house a go from the vigorous Noni Madueke to position The 3 Lions forward on seven mins.

The Aston Villa striker had a super likelihood to double England’s lead at the stroke of half-time when he was once put via on target sooner than shedding the ball, and early in the second one half of Rico Lewis and Jude Bellingham got here just about a 2d.

Within the last phases, Greece pressed for an equaliser however Bellingham had different concepts, understanding {that a} two-goal cushion was once the most important for England of their seek for automated promotion.

The Actual Madrid megastar made a riding run via midfield and located area at the fringe of the field sooner than unleashing a low strike, which crashed off the submit, hit the goalkeeper at the rebound and trickled over the road.

3 mins later, exchange Morgan Gibbs-White discovered Jones within the field and he slotted house for a memorable debut target and England’s 3rd.

Carsley’s aspect at the moment are best of the crowd of Workforce B2 and are in pole place to qualify for promotion to League A, must they beat Eire at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

A victory would were nice for England, however victory with a three-goal cushion has lifted The 3 Lions above Greece on target distinction and now issues are in their very own palms as they get ready to stand Republic of Eire of their ultimate Workforce B2 recreation.

Must they get the task accomplished and seal automated qualification to League A, they’re going to skip a two-legged play-off subsequent 12 months, which you’d believe incoming boss Thomas Tuchel – who begins his position in lower than 50 days – could be determined to keep away from.

Quite a lot of plaudits will cross to Carsley for his courageous crew variety and the ones avid gamers who stepped up within the absence of various first-team avid gamers – and rightly so – however Jordan Pickford made two the most important stops to disclaim Greece an equaliser. With out them, this recreation may have long gone very another way for England.

He made a robust save at the 30 minutes mark to thwart Premier League rival Konstantinos Tsimikas, sooner than denying Fotis Ioannidis simply after an hour. Along with the ones stops, he commanded his field expertly and was once excellent with the ball at his ft. He didn’t put a foot fallacious in Athens and now not for the primary time in an England blouse.

Greece: Vlachodimos 4, Rota 5, Mavropanos 6, Koulierakis 7, Tsimikas 6, Siopis 6, Zafeiris 5, Masouras 5, Bakasetas 6, Tzolis 6, Pavlidis 5

Subs: Mandas, Tzolakis, Giannoulis, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Hatzidakos, Palkas, Konstantelias, Mantalos, Alexandropoulos, Douvikas, Ioannidis

England: Pickford 9, Walker 7, Konsa 6, Guehi 7, Lewis 7, Gallagher 7, Jones 8, Madueke 8, Bellingham 8, Gordon 6, Watkins 8

Subs: Gibbs-White 6, Kane 6, Corridor 6, Rogers 6, Bowen 6

7’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-1 ENGLAND (WATKINS): And that’s the reason why he is within the crew! Jude Bellingham threads a go down the suitable for Madueke to chase, and he shifts previous his guy and pulls again a low go for Watkins to fit house right into a just about empty web. What a get started through The 3 Lions!

29’ – WHAT A SAVE FROM PICKFORD! Tsimikas reveals room within the field and blasts an effort at Pickford’s entrance submit however the Everton goalkeeper will get a robust arm to the shot – which involves him as fast as a flash – and beats the ball away. Walker is having a phrase with Madueke, who has been sensible offensively thus far however failed to trace the left-back.

45’+2 – AN ENGLAND CHANCE GOES BEGGING! Watkins seems to be to be via on target, however he loses the ball which slows down as he tries to power into the penalty space. A superb opportunity for England to double their lead at the stroke of half-time.

52’ – LEWIS DENIED! After some sensible build-up play at the left via Gordon, England transfer the ball to Madueke at the proper, and he reveals Lewis however his fierce shot throughout the field is blocked. Every other excellent likelihood for 2-0!

54’ – ENGLAND HIT THE POST! A go is available in from the suitable and Bellingham glances it goal-bound however the goalkeeper thinks it is going extensive, till it bounces off the woodwork.

63’ – ANOTHER BIG SAVE FROM PICKFORD! That is his 2d the most important forestall to give protection to England’s lead. It is exchange Fotis Ioannidis with a super strike however Pickford will get simply sufficient on it to influence the ball in the back of for a nook.

79’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-2 ENGLAND (VLACHODIMOS OWN GOAL): England double their lead in opposition to the run of play! Bellingham drives against target, reveals area and pulls the cause on a low shot which crashes off the foot of the submit, hits the goalkeeper at the again at the rebound and trickles over the road.

83’ – GOAL!!! – GREECE 0-3 ENGLAND (JONES): A dream debut for Jones who rankings England’s 3rd! In a silky 3 Lions transfer. Gibbs-White, who has been at the pitch for mins, pulls a go again for Jones to fit house.

• Curtis Jones is the primary Liverpool participant to attain on his England debut since Sammy Lee again in November 1982, additionally in an away recreation in opposition to Greece.
• At twenty years and 67 days, Lewis Corridor is the youngest Newcastle United participant to look for England in a aggressive global since Jock Rutherford in 1904 in a House Countries fit (19 years & 180 days).