England eased past hosts Greece 3-0 in their Nations League match on Thursday to go top of their Group B2 and head into their last matchday against Ireland playing for promotion.
Goals from Ollie Watkins, an own goal by the Greeks and a late flick from Curtis Jones on his debut gave England a comfortable victory and put them on 12 points from five matches.
They are ahead of Greece, who beat them 2-1 in London last month, on goal difference.
The visitors flew into Greece without nine players – including Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold – who pulled out of interim boss Lee Carsley’s squad due to injuries.
Captain Harry Kane had sharply criticised the withdrawals, saying country must always come before club.
Kane was surprisingly left on the bench until the second half but there was nothing lax about their start with England comfortably controlling possession and getting an early goal from Watkins.
“It represents that we are moving in the right direction. We won’t get too carried away, we have a big game on Sunday at Wembley,” said England’s interim boss Lee Carsley.
Read also: France bolsters security for tense France-Israel soccer clash amid Israel-Gaza conflict
“We have a lot of outstanding talent. The players that weren’t here, we concentrated on the ones who were. They took their opportunity today.
“People were speaking last night about the inexperience in the squad but these players are playing for their clubs at a really high level.”
Watkins tapped in for the lead in the seventh minute after a cutback from Noni Madueke, making his first England start.
Greece, who had their first effort towards goal after 25 minutes, gradually got into the game and had a golden chance to level on the half hour mark but Kostas Tsimikas’ shot from inside the box was punched wide by England keeper Jordan Pickford.
