After the chaos of their defeat to Greece, England restored some order on the pitch with a 3-1 Nations League victory over Finland at the Olympic Stadium. The tie was played mainly in gray but was memorable for a lively thunderbolt from a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick.
But there is still confusion off the field. The build-up to the match has been overshadowed by increased uncertainty over whether interim coach Lee Carsley, the FA’s favorite choice to become Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor, wants the job at all.
A win is a win but it now feels as if England have entered a period of inertia and drift until either Carsley makes his intentions clear or the FA appoint a new permanent manager to take over after the final Nations League games against Greece and the Republic. of Ireland next month.
After the failed experiments seen in the Greek game, Carsley opted for a more conservative approach this time and was rewarded with decent performances from Angel Gomes and Jack Grealish in particular.
But the match felt like it was on an island of uncertainty surrounding the identity of the next manager. England may not be as good as their fans think they are, but they still boast some of the most talented individuals in the game.
England returned to winning ways in the Nations League after beating Finland in Helsinki
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning free-kick to help the Three Lions bounce back
Jack Grealish opened the scoring in the first half before toasting the birth of his daughter
It shouldn’t be difficult to get someone to manage them, especially with a World Cup on the horizon, but the FA are in a standstill and don’t seem to know whether Carsley would take the job or not. They have to find out quickly.
Carsley has resisted regular media invitations to express his interest in a permanent England job, and on the eve of this match some reports suggested he did not want that.
If true, that doesn’t make Carsley a bad coach. Probably the opposite. It suggests he may not be governed by the same intensity of ambition that characterizes so many of his fellow managers and coaches. It suggests a man who has other priorities in life.
But it is far from ideal for the FA. The uncertainty has sown confusion among the hierarchy and among supporters. And it has created a vacuum of authority and leadership in the English system.
It has also halted development of the team following the departure of Gareth Southgate. When it felt like Carsley was going to be the next manager, there was at least some meaning in the otherwise pointless Nations League.
But if Carsley is not in charge in the long term, then the changes he makes in style and personnel in games like this tie are less significant. When Carsley returns as Under-21 coach, whoever takes permanent charge will bring with him his own ideas about players and systems.
It is also a blow to the idea that the FA had a smooth succession plan in place that would have rewarded Carsley for a successful spell as Under-21 coach with the senior job. The principle of a trajectory for English coaches has suddenly been overshadowed.
Under the circumstances, it was hardly a surprise that this match felt flat. England soon showed some of the same vulnerability that had imbued their performance against Greece. A poor pass from Gomes gave possession to the Finns and when Fredrik Jensen’s shot was blocked, the ball fell to Benjamin Kallman, who dragged his effort wide.
Declan Rice secured third place for the visitors on an improved evening for interim boss Lee Carsley
Grealish latched onto Angel Gomes’ lovely pass before tucking his finish into the far corner
Arttu Hoskonen pulled one back for Finland after heading home at the near post from a corner
Fredrik Jensen crossed the bar with great fear from a few meters away
But England gradually got into the rhythm and in the 18th minute Alexander-Arnold shot a ball to Gomes on the edge of the area, Gomes took the ball with his back to goal, sweetly turned away from his marker and delivered a brilliant pass to Grealish. Grealish opened his body and curled the ball around Lukas Hradecky.
England might have doubled their lead when Jude Bellingham found Declan Rice deep in the Finland region with an excellent driven pass, but Rice could not control the ball enough to prevent a defender cutting it away.
England were in control, but they still seemed unsettled. Palmer looked isolated and distant wide on the right and barely featured in the match, Kane was anonymous and Gomes appeared to be struggling with an ankle injury.
Finland missed a great chance to equalize six minutes before half-time. Nikolai Ahlo drifted away from Alexander-Arnold as a pass was pumped across the pitch towards him, and found space to nod the ball to Jensen, but he sat back and lifted his shot high over the bar.
Ten minutes after halftime, the home team squandered an even better chance. Topi Keskinen, the Aberdeen striker with a tattoo of Wayne Rooney, fishing, on his arm, squared John Stones and passed him on the left.
He cut his cross back into the path of Jensen, but from six yards out, Jensen somehow scooped his shot back over the bar.
Dean Henderson was also forced into action following his late return for the Three Lions
Carsley has won three of his four matches, but is in doubt about the permanent job
And then, in the midst of England’s stupor, Alexander-Arnold conjured up a beautiful flash of lightning. Bellingham were fouled on the edge of the penalty area fifteen minutes before the end and Alexander-Arnold hit a curling, dipping, fizzing free-kick over the wall and into the roof of the net. It was a purpose to warm up a cold night.
After Kane conceded, Ollie Watkins added some pace and verve to the attack and his run and cross in the 84th minute saw Rice put the match out of England’s reach with a neat finish.
Finland salvaged some pride with a late consolation goal, Arttu Hoskonen’s towering header from a corner three minutes from time.