England bounced back from their disappointing defeat by Greece as they won 3-1 away to Finland in the Nations League.
Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice all scored for England, although Arttu Hoskonen got a goal back for Finland late on.
After his experimental formation didn’t work against Greece, interim boss Lee Carsley fielded a more balanced side on this occasion.
England have now won three and lost one of their four Nations League games so far.
Mail Sport’s Sami Mokbel brings you the moments you may have missed from the Olympiastadion.
Carsley insists Dean Henderson was always going to play
Lee Carsley placated surprise at the decision to give Dean Henderson a start in goal
England interim boss Carsley insisted that he always wanted to give Henderson an opportunity
Lee Carsley moved quickly to placate the surprise at his decision to hand Dean Henderson his first England start in place of long-term No 1 Jordan Pickford. Crystal Palace keeper was a shock inclusion in Carsley’s starting XI for the game against Finland given Pickford’s assumed position as long-term first choice.
Pickford was poor against Greece on Thursday as England suffered an embarrassing loss. But Carsley insisted it was always his intention to give Henderson a game this month, saying: ‘There was a case of getting a look at a few other players and we were always going to look at Dean Henderson in one of these games.’
Declan Rice shows his ability as a No 8
Declan Rice showed some encouraging glimpses of his ability as a No 8 against Finland
We caught further glimpse of Declan Rice’s emerging abilities as a No 8 here in Helsinki. The inclusion of Angel Gomes next to Rice in midfield allowed the Arsenal man greater licence to break forward into attacking areas, a feature of his game that’s become increasingly apparent at his club in recent months. It’s a facet of Rice’s game that England must harness in the future, with or without Carsley.
Marc Guehi’s return improves England
Marc Guehi’s return to the starting lineup helped to significantly improve the England team
Marc Guehi returned to the starting XI against Finland after sitting out of the Greece debacle and England looked far better for it.
There’s a calm to the Crystal Palace defender’s game that the team benefit from; with Guehi’s partnership with John Stones growing in stature.
Levi Colwill, who played ahead of Guehi against Greece, has started the season fantastically at Chelsea and the fact he is left-footed provides England with natural balance. But Guehi has to be a fixture in the England team ahead of the World Cup.
Trent Alexander-Arnold should play at right-back
Trent Alexander-Arnold started at left-back but it’s clear he should play at right-back
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a right-back. That’s where he should play. Not in centre-midfield, not – as he did on Sunday night – at left-back.
As Mail Sport first revealed on Saturday night, the Liverpool star was deployed in an unfamiliar role here in Helsinki but enough with trying to shoehorn him into the England. He was fine there, linking up well with Jack Grealish. His free-kick for England’s second was sublime. But this England team should play to his strength, not squeezing him in. Play him. Absolutely, yes. But play him at right-back.
Kyle Walker is still England’s vice-captain
Kyle Walker remains England’s vice-captain and took the armband when Harry Kane went off
Kyle Walker remains England’s vice captain. The Manchester City defender was promoted into the position for Euro 2024 following the omission of Jordan Henderson, who previously held the role as Harry Kane’s second in command, for the tournament.
But Gareth Southgate’s departure and Walker’s omission from Carsley’s first squad in September raised questions over the vice-captaincy. But Kane immediately ran over to Walker to pass over the armband to his team mate as he was substituted in the second half.
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