England Fall to Greece: Player Ratings & Analysis
The Three Lions Stumble in Athens: A Disappointing Performance Leaves Questions Hanging
A night of frustration in Athens as England suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Greece in their Euro 2024 qualifier. The result leaves Gareth Southgate’s men facing growing scrutiny with just two games left to secure automatic qualification.
First Half:
England started brightly, dominating possession and creating a number of early chances. Harry Kane looked sharp and was denied a penalty in the 11th minute after a clumsy tackle by the Greek defender. The opening goal, however, came from an unlikely source: Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal winger, finding space on the right flank, delivered a perfectly placed cross to the far post where Harry Maguire headed home for the opener in the 51st minute.
Second Half:
The lead proved short-lived as Greece equalized in the 59th minute. A corner kick from Giannis Gianniotas found Sokratis Papastathopoulos who powerfully headed past Jordan Pickford. The equalizer shifted momentum and the Greeks, fueled by the home support, began to press with renewed vigor. Their pressure was rewarded in the 74th minute as Kyriakos Papadopoulos capitalized on a mix-up in the English defense to slot the ball past Pickford, sending the Athenian crowd into raptures.
Missed Opportunities & A Lack of Urgency:
England created a number of opportunities to score in the second half, but they lacked the necessary ruthlessness. Kane came closest to an equalizer, but his powerful shot was saved by Odysseas Vlachodimos in the 67th minute. The team’s lack of urgency and inability to break down the organized Greek defense ultimately cost them dearly.
Player Ratings:
Jordan Pickford: 6/10 - Made a couple of important saves, but also seemed hesitant on the second goal.
Kyle Walker: 6/10 - Solid defensively, but lacked the attacking flair he usually offers.
Harry Maguire: 7/10 - The most consistent defender on the pitch, scoring the opener and providing a steady presence in the backline.
John Stones: 5/10 - Struggled to impose himself against the physical Greek attack.
Bukayo Saka: 6/10 - Excellent in the first half, delivering the assist for the goal, but faded as the game wore on.
Declan Rice: 6/10 - Dictated the tempo in midfield but lacked creativity in the final third.
Jude Bellingham: 7/10 - Energetic and tireless in midfield, but lacked the precision in the final pass to unlock the Greek defense.
Phil Foden: 5/10 - Quiet performance, failing to make a significant impact.
Raheem Sterling: 4/10 - Invisible for most of the game, unable to create any danger.
Harry Kane: 6/10 - Worked tirelessly, but was frustrated by the Greek defense.
Substitutes:
Jack Grealish: 5/10 - Didn’t make much of an impact.
Kalvin Phillips: 5/10 - Came on too late to make a difference.
Marcus Rashford: 5/10 - Tried to make an impact, but lacked the necessary sharpness.
Conclusion:
The defeat in Athens raises serious questions about England’s ability to perform under pressure. The team’s lack of urgency and inability to break down a stubborn defense are worrying signs. Southgate must quickly address these issues if England are to achieve their ambitions in the upcoming Euro 2024.
FAQs:
- What was the final score? Greece 2-1 England.
- Who scored for England? Harry Maguire.
- Who scored for Greece? Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
- What are England's remaining qualifying matches? England will face Italy away and Ukraine at home.
- How do these results impact England's qualification chances? England are still in a strong position to qualify automatically, but they can no longer afford any more slip-ups.
- What are some of the key takeaways from the game? England's lack of urgency and creativity in attack, as well as their inability to deal with set pieces, were clear weaknesses.
England will need to regroup quickly and show a much-improved performance in their next qualifier against Italy. The future of their Euro 2024 dreams may well depend on it.
