By Greece achieved a historic first victory over England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday night, winning 2-1 in a Nations League Group B2 match that dealt a blow to England’s caretaker manager Lee Carsley’s hopes of securing the job permanently.
Striker Vangelis Pavlidis emerged as the hero for Greece, scoring both goals including a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The victory puts Greece in control of the group with a maximum nine points, while England suffered their first defeat under Carsley, leaving them second with six points.
Pavlidis opened the scoring early in the second half with a clinical finish, showcasing impressive footwork to dispatch a low shot past Jordan Pickford despite being surrounded by England defenders. The Greek striker’s performance was even more remarkable considering Greece had three goals disallowed throughout the match.
England, fielding an ultra-attacking lineup in the absence of injured captain Harry Kane, struggled to find their rhythm. Jude Bellingham appeared to have salvaged a point for the hosts with a powerful equalizer in the 87th minute, but Pavlidis capitalized on poor defending to score the winner from close range in stoppage time.
The defeat raises questions about Carsley’s tactics and England’s defensive vulnerabilities. John Stones, wearing the captain’s armband in Kane’s absence, expressed his disappointment: “On a personal note, absolutely gutted. To have a result like that with the armband for the first time. We prepared like we normally do and it didn’t come off.”
The evening began poignantly with a minute’s silence for former Greek international George Baldock, who passed away this week at the age of 31. Pavlidis dedicated the win to Baldock’s memory, saying, “We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football.”
Despite England’s attacking potential, with players like Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Bellingham in the starting lineup, it was Greece who created the better chances throughout the match. England goalkeeper Pickford had a nervy performance, nearly gifting Greece a goal in the first half when he lost possession near his own goal line.
As Greece celebrates this landmark victory, England and Carsley must regroup quickly. The result not only impacts their Nations League campaign but also raises questions about the team’s direction following Gareth Southgate’s departure.
With the next round of matches looming, both teams will be keen to build on this result – Greece looking to maintain their perfect start, and England aiming to bounce back from this unexpected setback at Wembley.
