Thu Oct 10 20:48:27 UTC 2024: ## England Suffer First Defeat Under Carsley as Greece Triumph at Wembley
**London, England** – England’s hopes of a Nations League victory were dashed on Thursday night as Greece secured a historic 2-1 victory at Wembley, handing England their first defeat under interim manager Lee Carsley.
Vangelis Pavlidis was the hero for Greece, scoring a brace, including a stoppage-time winner that sent Greek fans into raptures. The striker’s first goal, a clinical finish in the 49th minute, put Greece ahead after a frustrating first half for England.
England, missing injured captain Harry Kane, started brightly with a front five featuring Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden. However, Greece’s defense proved resilient, and England’s attack lacked the cutting edge.
Despite a late equalizer from Bellingham in the 87th minute, England’s defensive woes were exposed once again as Pavlidis capitalized on a defensive lapse to secure the win.
The defeat is a significant setback for Carsley, who had been considered a potential candidate for the permanent manager’s job after impressive performances in his previous two games.
“On a personal note, absolutely gutted,” said England captain John Stones, who wore the armband in Kane’s absence. “We prepared like we normally do, and it didn’t come off.”
The win puts Greece in a commanding position at the top of Group B2 with nine points, while England are second with six points.
The game also held a poignant significance for Greece, who observed a minute’s silence before kickoff in memory of former international George Baldock, who died this week at the age of 31.
“It’s a very special day and match for us,” said Pavlidis. “We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football.”
First Piper 