England Bounce Back with 3-1 Win Over Finland

England bounced back from their embarrassing UEFA Nations League defeat to Greece with a 3-1 win against Finland in Helsinki but the performance was far from convincing. Interim manager Lee Carsley made six changes including starting Dean Henderson in goal over Jordan Pickford. England took an early lead through Jack Grealish, who finished from Angel Gomes’ precise pass in the 18th minute.

However, Finland ranked 64th in the world created several chances to level the score with striker Fredrik Jensen missing key opportunities. The turning point came in the 74th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold, playing as a left-back in a tactical experiment, curled in a stunning 25-yard free-kick to double England’s lead. Declan Rice added a third goal with six minutes left giving England a more comfortable margin.

Finland deservedly scored a late consolation through Arttu Hoskonen after England failed to deal with a corner. While England secured the win, the performance raised concerns especially after their shock loss to Greece. Carsley’s decision to experiment with players and tactics continues to draw scrutiny but the team at least showed more structure compared to the previous game.

Jack Grealish impressed again with his second goal of the season but Cole Palmer struggled to make an impact and was substituted after 68 minutes. Harry Kane returning from injury also looked off the pace. Overall, the victory provided some relief for Carsley but it did little to clear up questions about England’s direction under his leadership.

The upcoming camp in November will be crucial for both Carsley and the team.