Lee Carsley’s 100 per cent winning record as England interim manager screeched to a halt at Wembley as the Three Lions were stunned 2-1 by Greece.
The visitors had the ball in the net five times, but three of those strikes were rightly chalked off for offside.
England were level at the break thanks to an excellent goal-line clearance from Levi Colwill but fell behind shortly after half-time when Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis fired home.
Jude Bellingham equalised late on when he struck from distance, but a defensive mix-up at the back cost England dearly in stoppage time and Pavlidis capitalised by grabbing his second and scoring the winner.
Dom Smith was at Wembley to rate the England players’ performances…
His distribution was not what it usually is, and he was tackled in the first half as Greece almost scored, but for Colwill’s outstanding clearance. From the subsequent corner, Pickford missed a punch and was fortunate that Dinos Mavropanos was offside when he headed in.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 5
Defensive work was suspect. Almost earned an assist with a super cross onto the head of Anthony Gordon.
John Stones 6
Captained his country from the start of a match for the very first time. Greece still had joy when running at him and others, though, and was turned too easily for the goal.
Levi Colwill 7
Did his case for more England caps under Carsley no harm at all. First to every ball and produced a truly exceptional goal-line clearance to prevent Greece taking a first-half lead. Goals not his fault.
Rico Lewis 6
Pep Guardiola said recently that Lewis has a bizarre ability to always stay unmarked. He’s absolutely right, of course. Another good display at left-back from the teenager, but he was involved in the defence mix-up for Greece’s winner.
Declan Rice 5
Not the quickest to the ball in terms of dispossessing Greece as they broke away. OK once in possession.
Some nice touches, as always, but quite a peripheral figure in England’s star-studded front line.
Bukayo Saka 6
Was often free on the right and not played through by his teammates. Went off six minutes into the second half with a knock and will be assessed before Sunday’s match against Finland.
Cole Palmer 6
Unlucky with free-kick which hit the roof of the net, yet should have scored soon after from Jude Bellingham’s cut-back when he blazed over. Saw plenty of the ball, just as he does for Chelsea each week.
Anthony Gordon 6
Close with a first-half header. At times a little exposed out on the left, but a typically energetic display.
Jude Bellingham 7
Denied very early on by the goalkeeper after a fine long shot on goal. Still has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long, and some of his decision-making was questionable, but a tireless presser and scored a fine goal that could have earned England a point.
Subs:
Noni Madueke (Saka, 51’) 6
Offered width on the right by replacing Saka, but can sometimes be a tad greedy, and had one shot when he should have passed. Otherwise bright.
Ollie Watkins (Gordon, 60’) 5
Spurned a huge chance immediately after coming on as he rifled the ball over the bar when he ought to have hit the target.
Dominic Solanke (Foden, 72’) 6
Made his second England appearance, seven years after his first. That in itself made his night a major success. Denied a backheel goal by a fine block.
Not used: Henderson, Pope, Guehi, Walker, Gallagher, Livramento, Jones, Gomes
