Finland v England LIVE: Nations League result as Trent Alexander-Arnold scores stunning free-kick in win
Finland 1-3 England: The Three Lions bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Greece at Wembley last time out
England returned to winning ways against Finland as Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning free-kick to lift Lee Carsley’s side to victory in Helsinki.
The full-back curled an excellent free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards to double England’s lead after the visitors had lost their momentum following Jack Grealish’s first-half opener.
Declan Rice then added a third for England on the counter-attack as Ollie Watkins came off the bench to make an impact after replacing Harry Kane. Finland pulled one back late on through a corner, with Arttu Hoskonen left unmarked.
But the result was a positive one for Carsley overall with the interim manager returning to a more conventional formation following the disastrous defeat at home to Greece on Friday, and three points gets England back on track in their Nations League campaign.
Follow all the latest reaction to England’s win below:
Finland 0-1 England
44 mins
Lovely play from Rice to get the ball out and evade the press, and his pass between the lines releases Alexander-Arnold. He surges towards the box and squares it to Bellingham, whose touch is a little heavy, and he can’t force the shooting chance.
Finland 0-1 England
42 mins
Plenty of space for Grealish as he receives on the left-hand edge of the box, but he doesn’t have a lot of support (or supporting runs).
The pass from Gomes is cut out and Walker concedes the foul to end the counter.
Finland 0-1 England
40 mins
Finland were enjoying some sustained possession there but it ends as Ahlo’s early cross drops straight to Walker.
Moments later, another early cross is played in, this time to Kallman, but he can’t get enough power on the header.
Finland 0-1 England
38 mins
Dangerous move from Finland as the diagonal pass is played to hAlo, who heads down to Jensen. His touch is good and it takes him past Alexander-Arnold, but he blasts wide of the near post on the half-volley.
Finland 0-1 England
35 mins
A half chance for England as Bellingham plays a lovely diagonal to Rice, who brings it down on the edge of the six-yard box, but he can’t get clean contact on the shot and it’s deflected behind.
Palmer’s corner is a good one, but Rice can’t divert the header goalwards.
Finland 0-1 England
33 mins
Alexander-Arnold is providing plenty of width from left-back, as opposed to the inverted role he was playing against Ireland last month.
Finland break and it’s two-v-three as Keskinen carries, but he ends up rifling a shot straight at Henderson while under pressure from Stones.
Finland 0-1 England
31 mins
England cut out another Finland attack and try to launch one of their own, with Kane holding up well on halfway before Palmer plays a sloppy through ball to Bellingham, which itself is cut out.
Finland 0-1 England
29 mins
Encouraging signs from Finland as they string a few passes together on the edge of the England box before Keskinen is given offside.
Moments later, his cross is deflected behind for a corner after a good block from Walker.
Alho takes but it fails to beat Alexander-Arnold as the first defender.
Finland 0-1 England
27 mins
There’s a bit of a lull in activity over the last few minutes, before Angel Gomes goes down to receive some treatment.
77 per cent possession for England so far in Helsinki.
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