Pavlidis Double Stuns England as Greece Triumphs at Wembley in Emotional Win

Lee Carsley’s Tactical Gamble Backfires as Greece Takes Shock Victory

England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, faced disappointment at Wembley after his tactical experiment of playing without a recognized striker failed, as Greece pulled off a surprise 2-1 win in a friendly on Thursday night. Vangelis Pavlidis netted twice for the visitors, securing an emotional victory, as the Greek team dedicated the win to their teammate George Baldock, who tragically passed away at 31 just a day earlier.

Pavlidis’ first goal came in the second half, a powerful strike that left England’s defense scrambling. Although Jude Bellingham equalized with a thunderous shot in the 87th minute, Pavlidis struck again deep into injury time to seal the win for Greece.

England’s Tactical Struggles
Carsley’s decision to field Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer in advanced roles without a natural striker backfired. Despite England dominating possession, they struggled to create clear chances, with Foden and Palmer largely ineffective in the false nine roles. The absence of a traditional centre-forward, a tactic that Carsley previously used out of necessity during the Under-21 Euros, left England lacking cutting edge against a resolute Greek side.

Emotional Victory for Greece
Greece celebrated their goals by holding up a shirt bearing the name of their late teammate, George Baldock, adding emotional weight to their win. Pavlidis’ second-half goal gave Greece a deserved lead, and despite Bellingham’s late equalizer, poor defending allowed Pavlidis to score again, punishing England’s lack of organization at the back.

Player Ratings
Here are SunSport’s player ratings from England’s performance:

• Jordan Pickford: 4 – Struggled early, nearly gifting Greece a goal with a misplaced pass.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6 – Showed flashes of brilliance with his passing but was weak defensively.
• John Stones: 5 – Wore the captain’s armband but had a shaky night.
• Levi Colwill: 7 – Strong performance, including a crucial clearance to deny an early Greek goal.
• Rico Lewis: 6 – Energetic but limited by playing on the left, constantly cutting back to his right foot.
• Declan Rice: 6 – Solid but unable to shield the defense effectively against Greek counterattacks.
• Phil Foden: 4 – Played as a false nine but struggled to make an impact.
• Cole Palmer: 6 – Saw plenty of the ball but missed England’s best chance in the first half.
• Bukayo Saka: 5 – Struggled before being forced off with an injury early in the second half.
• Jude Bellingham: 7 (STAR MAN) – Played out of position but still produced a fantastic goal to level the match.
• Anthony Gordon: 5 – Failed to make an impact, with his touch looking off throughout.

Substitutes

• Noni Madueke (6) – Energetic but not in his natural position.
• Ollie Watkins (7) – Almost scored with his first touch after coming on.
• Dominic Solanke (7) – Set up Bellingham’s goal after coming off the bench.

Manager Lee Carsley: 4
Carsley’s tactical decision to play without a striker was a gamble that didn’t pay off. His experimental setup left England vulnerable, and although Bellingham’s late goal appeared to have salvaged a draw, Pavlidis’ injury-time winner exposed the flaws in England’s defense.