HELSINKI (Reuters) - England enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Finland thanks to goals from Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium to get their Nations League campaign back on track after Thursday’s humbling loss to Greece.
The win for England’s under-scrutiny interim manager Lee Carsley left his side second in Group B2 with nine points after four games, level on points with leaders Greece who host Ireland later on Sunday, while Finland are bottom without a point.
“I think we could have had a few more (goals), especially towards the end as the game opened up,” Grealish told ITV.
“It was difficult at times in the first half, but we went in at halftime with a one-goal lead, and then I think we dominated the game.”
Grealish opened the scoring in the 18th minute with his fourth England goal when Angel Gomes spun and slipped a clever pass into the path of the winger, who slotted the ball into the far corner past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
“The goal came from the manager letting us play with that freedom,” said Grealish, who stuck a thumb in his mouth in celebration, saying it was for his daughter who was born last month.
Alexander-Arnold gave England some breathing space when he bent a free kick from 20 meters over the wall into the top corner in the 74th minute.
Rice tapped home substitute Ollie Watkins’ cross 10 minutes later after making a bursting run upfield.