England faced their first defeat under interim manager Lee Carsley in a dramatic 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley Stadium. Despite putting forward an attacking and experimental lineup, England struggled to make the most of their talented players, including Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka.
Greece almost took the lead before halftime with a disallowed goal following a nervous performance from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who made several uncharacteristic errors. The Greeks finally broke the deadlock shortly after the interval, with Vangelis Pavlidis skillfully navigating through the English defense to score a low shot past Pickford.
As the match progressed, Greece saw two more goals ruled out for offside, highlighting the frailty of the English defense that often left John Stones and Levi Colwill exposed. In a tense finale, Bellingham scored a stunning equalizer for England, but Pavlidis struck again in stoppage time, securing Greece’s historic first-ever win against the Three Lions.
Pavlidis dedicated the victory to his late former teammate George Baldock, who recently passed away, adding an emotional layer to Greece’s triumph. England captain John Stones expressed condolences to Baldock’s family, noting the difficult day for the Greek players.
The loss marks a significant setback for England, making it their first competitive defeat at Wembley since 2020. Carsley acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stressing the importance of learning from mistakes. Looking forward, England will need to respond positively in their upcoming matches to remain competitive in the Nations League.