England returned to winning ways as Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice fired Lee Carsley’s side to a much-needed, if at times flat, Nations League victory in Finland.
Reeling from Thursday’s alarming display and defeat against Greece at Wembley, the Euro 2024 runners-up could ill afford a slip up against the lowest ranked side in Group B2.
England did not fully convince against Finland but leave Helsinki as 3-1 winners thanks to Grealish’s cool first-half strike, Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick and Rice’s near-post finish.
Arttu Hoskonen headed home a late consolation for the Nordic hosts, but Carsley’s men saw out an important result ahead of next month’s trip to Athens as they seek an immediate return to the Nations League top tier.
Grealish put England ahead with his fourth international goal – and second since Carsley’s interim appointment – following Angel Gomes’ exceptional pass, but they then lost their way.
Fredrik Jensen should have equalised as Finland pushed, only for Alexander-Arnold’s superb 25-yard free-kick to settle things.
Rice prodded home substitute Ollie Watkins’ cross to add gloss to the scoreline, with Hoskonen’s header giving a sold-out Olympiastadion something to cheer towards the end.
Carsley returned to a more conventional system after England’s failed experiment on Thursday, with the interim boss handing Dean Henderson his first start as he made six changes to the Greece defeat.
Gomes was among those brought in and he was breathing an early sigh of relief, with Finland breaking after cutting out his poor pass as John Stones blocked Benjamin Kallman’s attempt before Topi Keskinen fired wide.
Finland were prepared to feed on scraps as England dominated possession.
Jude Bellingham, playing in a more familiar midfield role after Thursday’s false nine experiment, and Alexander-Arnold, deployed as makeshift left-back, had shots blocked, before patient passing play bore fruit.
Gomes has been involved earlier in a fine team move that ended with him turning under pressure and brilliantly slipping in Grealish, who kept his cool to beat Lukas Hradecky in the 18th minute. The new father celebrated by sucking a thumb.
England continued in solid but unspectacular fashion, with Finland holding more of a threat towards the end of the first half.
Keskinen – the Aberdeen winger with a tattoo of idol Wayne Rooney fishing on an arm – was a handful and battling Fredrik Jensen fizzed over a good chance after Alexander-Arnold failed to effectively quell danger.
Kallman was another attacking presence for a side who managed more shots than Carsley’s visitors in a forgettable first half.
Alexander-Arnold sent a long-range effort down Hradecky’s throat when play resumed after the break, with Finland’s goalkeeper denying a largely anonymous Cole Palmer soon after.
The Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper also stopped Rice from distance after Finland saw a huge chance go to waste at the other end.
Kyle Walker, making his first appearance under Carsley, was caught napping in a move that ended with a drilled ball into the box and Jensen striking narrowly over from six yards out.
Carsley made a double change in a bid to change the dynamics, with returning captain Harry Kane replaced along with Palmer as Watkins and Noni Madueke got the nod.
The latter was soon involved, roaring down the right and seeing a smartly clipped cross cut out, before any doubt about the outcome was ended brilliantly by Alexander-Arnold in the 74th minute.
The Liverpool man beat Hradecky with a 25-yard free-kick that flew out of the goalkeeper’s reach into the top left-hand corner.
Rice added a third goal in the 84th minute but had Watkins to thank for his fantastic run down the left before sending in a low ball.
Finland’s dreams of a first-ever win against England had long been extinguished but they at least got to celebrate a goal as Leo Walta’s corner was headed home at the near post by Hoskonen three minutes from time.
Madueke smashed into the side-netting as the clock wound down towards victory.
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