England faced their first defeat under interim manager Lee Carsley, losing 2-1 to Greece in a dramatic match at Wembley. Carsley opted for an attacking and experimental formation, but his team struggled to make the most of talented players such as Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka.
Greece nearly took the lead before halftime, with a goal ruled out after Jordan Pickford’s uncharacteristic mistakes. They finally scored shortly after the break when Vangelis Pavlidis maneuvered past three defenders to score from close range.
The English defense proved shaky, with two more Greek goals disallowed, illustrating their struggles. Despite a powerful long-range shot from Bellingham that brought England level in the closing minutes, Pavlidis soon scored the winner in stoppage time, marking Greece’s first-ever victory over England.
The match also held emotional significance for the Greek players, as they dedicated their performance to former teammate George Baldock, who recently passed away. This match was historic for Greece, being their first win against England, and it highlighted England’s issues in both defense and formation under Carsley’s leadership.
Despite their loss, England still holds chances for automatic promotion in the Nations League, needing to perform strongly in their remaining matches.