Category: Sport

At the France-Israel soccer match, fans booed the Israeli anthem. The game was held under heavy security due to recent clashes in Amsterdam, and Macron and Barnier were present at the stadium.

Some football fans attending the Nations League match in Paris between France and Israel whistled and booed when the Israeli anthem was played at the beginning of the game, BBC reports, UNN writes.

Details

Thursday's match was held with few spectators and tight security a week after violence erupted in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and visiting Israeli fans.

Thousands of police officers were deployed to provide security at the Stade de France stadium in the northern suburbs of Paris and on public transportation, while an elite anti-terrorism police unit protected the incoming Israeli team.

According to the Reuters news agency, about 100 Israeli fans ignored their government's warning about the trip and sat in a corner of the 80,000-capacity stadium, which was one-fifth full.

Fans were told to expect document checks before the game, and bars and restaurants in the area were ordered to close from noon.

Despite fears of a repeat of the violence in Amsterdam, there were only a few brief clashes in the stands in the first half of the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw. An AFP reporter witnessed stewards intervening to stop a clash in the stands between opposing fans.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the match along with Prime Minister Michel Barnier, said in advance that France would not succumb to anti-Semitism.

Before the match, several hundred demonstrators gathered in the square near the stadium to wave Palestinian, Lebanese, and Algerian flags to protest the war in Gaza.

Politicians across Europe have condemned the "return of anti-Semitism" after Israeli fans were harassed on the streets of Amsterdam.

Addendum

France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are home to large numbers of Muslims of North African descent, and they live alongside a much smaller Jewish population that mostly identifies with Israel, the publication points out.

"The Stade de France was the site of a dangerous breach of law and order during the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in 2022. However, since then, the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics in Paris have been held there peacefully.

According to reports, Liverpool are ‘convinced’ Trent Alexander-Arnold will pen a contract extension amid interest from La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Liverpool have made a superb start to the 2024/25 campaign under new head coach Arne Slot.

The Dutch head coach has won 15 of his 17 games across all competitions as the Reds top the Premier League and Champions League.

However, it is not all good news for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk have entered the final year of their contracts and it remains to be seen whether they will pen an extension.

Alexander-Arnold had been considered the most likely of the three players to leave as Real Madrid are interested in him.

Real Madrid have reportedly identified the England international as their preferred long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal and it’s even been suggested that he could leave Liverpool as part of a January swap deal.

READ: New Liverpool style has given England the gift of Curtis Jones

However, a new report from Graeme Bailey for GiveMeSport claims Liverpool are ‘convinced’ Alexander-Arnold will pen a new deal and snub Real Madrid in the process.

This is after Liverpool ‘offered’ him a record contract. The report also reveals when they expect him to sign.

‘TBR Football understands Liverpool are determined to tie down Trent Alexander-Arnold and talks have been continuing with his camp in recent weeks.

‘We previously revealed that Real Madrid are interested in Alexander-Arnold and now some of Europe’s biggest clubs have joined them in the race for his signature.

‘But, Liverpool sources have confirmed to us that they are highly confident that the 26-year-old will put pen to paper before Christmas on his new deal.

‘Liverpool have offered him the largest contract they have ever made to a homegrown player, indeed it would put him on par with Mo Salah and make him the highest-paid English player in the Premier League.’

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Alexander-Arnold has reacted angrily to being substituted on a couple of occasions this season, but the report claims he’s a ‘fan of Slot’s style’ after ‘telling Liverpool he wanted to wait’.

‘TBR Football further understands that Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool that he wanted to wait until the opening months of the season to experience life under Arne Slot before deciding on his future.

‘Now, it’s understood that Alexander-Arnold is a fan of Slot’s style and has been impressed with how he has quickly taken control of the squad.

‘Real Madrid are continuing to monitor the situation and we can also reveal that European powerhouses Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have also made enquiries and are ready to make offers – if indeed Alexander-Arnold decides his future lies away from Anfield.’

At a weigh-in ceremony before a fight in Texas, 58-year-old Mike Tyson punched 27-year-old boxer-blogger Jake Paul in the face. Paul reacted to the incident by jokingly calling Tyson an “evil little elf.

Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson slapped boxing blogger Jake Paul at a tense weigh-in ceremony before a controversial heavyweight fight on Friday in Texas, UNN reports citing BBC Sport.

Details

Rookie boxer Paul, 27, will face 58-year-old Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

After both men made up their minds, Paul crawled across the floor before climbing up to Tyson's eye line for the traditional final battle of the eyes.

Tyson had refused to respond to Paul's incitement for most of the week, but he punched his opponent in the face, forcing security and teammates to rush to separate the fighters.

"This conversation is over," Tyson said and walked off stage. Paul, meanwhile, smiled before sitting down and seemingly meditating.

"I didn't even feel it. He's evil. He's an evil little elf," Paul said of the slap.

"Mike Tyson, I thought that was a nice slap, buddy, but tomorrow you're going to get knocked out," he said.

Addendum

Tyson, a two-time world champion, last competed in a professional ring in 2005.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah isn’t wanted at Barcelona with Hansi Flick urging the Catalan giants to look elsewhere, according to reports.

The Egypt international has been in good form once again this season with Salah contributing ten goals and ten assists in 16 matches in all competitions.

Salah, along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the current season with no concrete signs that he will stay or go.

Liverpool are reluctant to offer long-term deals to players in their 30s but the 32-year-old will feel like he deserves a lucrative contract because of his continued brilliant form in a Reds shirt.

After scoring the winning goal as Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 on November 2, Salah hinted that his future at Anfield remains uncertain in a cryptic message on social media.

Salah wrote: “Top of the table is where this club belongs. Nothing less. All teams win matches but there’s only 1 champion in the end. That’s what we want.

“Thank you for your support last night. No matter what happens, I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like.”

And now reports in Spain claim that Barcelona boss Flick ‘rules out’ a summer move for Salah ‘due to the advanced age of the African, who is currently 32 years old’.

Salah had ‘offered himself to Joan Laporta and Deco’ at Barcelona but Flick ‘prefers to forget about Salah and focus his efforts on Leroy Sane’, who he used to manage at Bayern Munich.

The report adds that ‘Flick has taken a firm stance and it doesn’t seem like anything or anyone can change his mind regarding Salah’s arrival’.

Richard Dunne has been extremely impressed by Salah’s form this season with Liverpool top of the Premier League in their first season under Arne Slot.

When asked for one player who has stood out in the Premier League this season, Dunne told Gambling Zone: “If I had to pick one star man from the Premier League this season, then I’d go for Mo Salah. The way that he has started the season has been fantastic and, obviously, there’s concerns over whether he’ll sign another contract, or if this his last year.

MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365…
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“I didn’t think he finished the back end of the last season very well. It seemed like he had a falling out with Klopp at different times, but he’s come back and been fantastic.

“His contribution to the team already this season has been huge. For Liverpool to be successful they need him to try and keep at those levels for the rest of the season.

“As for his contract, a lot of the time when a player is in the last year of his deal, there’s a lot of unnecessary outside noise rather than the player becoming unsettled or distracted. Top players typically get on with the job and don’t lose sight of their main goal.

“He’s been brilliant this season, he’s so focused on what he wants to do. He’s so focused on Liverpool and on his own success. He likes scoring goals, he likes being creative, he likes being talked about. He wants to be back in that Ballon d’Or running.

“He’s completely focused on himself and on his football and has forgot about any outside noise. Liverpool are the really benefiting from that focus this season.”

When asked which Liverpool contract rebel is likely to go, Dunne added: “I think that Salah might be the one out of the three that would leave. He almost threatened it a couple of years ago, everyone heard the stories that he wanted to move on. I think he’s probably getting to the stage where he does want a new challenge.

“Like every superstar that leaves, you think it’s the end of the world for your football club, but there will always be a replacement. Top clubs always find someone to come in and do the job.

“I think Salah’s been fantastic for Liverpool. I would imagine the money and the length of contract that he’s looking for is probably beyond what Liverpool are willing to go to. Liverpool have got to be true to themselves in terms of the business side of it.

“For Salah, he’s done everything in the Premier League. If he can finish this season as a champion again, I think that might be the time for him to move on, although I still think he’s got plenty and plenty to offer Liverpool.”

The debutants of the Ukrainian national team spoke about their emotions after receiving a call-up to the national team. Oleksiy Sych, Oleksandr Nazarenko, Yegor Yarmolyuk and Ivan Kalyuzhny shared their personal stories of reaction to the news.

Rukh defender Oleksiy Sych has received his debut call-up to the Ukrainian national team to replace Dynamo's Oleksandr Tymchyk, who left the team's camp before the matches against Georgia and Albania in the Nations League. Sych said that he learned about the call-up while lying in bed with his wife and watching a TV show.

UNN decided to tell how the players reacted to being called up to the country's main football team.

Details

Rukh right-back and national team debutant Oleksiy Sych said that he learned about the call-up to the main team while lying in bed with his wife and watching the series.

It was a surprise for me. I am very glad to be here now. I was just lying in bed with my wife, watching a TV show, and our CEO Igor Mikhailovich Dedyshyn called me. He said: “Congratulations.” I said: “With what?” He said: “You've been called up to the national team.

“I was very surprised and happy. So it was like a new stage for me. I didn't believe it right away, but when my coach called me and others began to congratulate me, I realized that it was real. Like Nazarenko, my phone didn't fall off, but my hands were shaking. It's the first time I've experienced this, new emotions, it's cool,” Sych said.

He said that left Lviv at 10 a.m. and arrived at a hotel in Turkey at one or two in the morning.

But the road is nothing. The main thing is that I am here. The team consists of most of the guys I already know from the Olympic team and U21. Of course, there are older guys I don't know at all, especially the legionnaires. It will be interesting to get to know them. Of those I know, Nazarenko and Brazhko have already written to me. First of all, I want the team to win these two matches. This is the main thing, and if possible, I want to help the national team on the field

– Sych added.

Former Polissia winger Oleksandr Nazarenko said that when he learned about the call-up to the national team for the October matches of the League of Nations, his phone fell out of his hands.

I wanted to go home, I had already taken tickets to Dnipro. I arrived at the train station to wait for my train and got a call saying that Dnipro was canceled, you were going to the national team. I even dropped the phone from my hands. So I was very excited, but happy

– Nazarenko said.

Another debutant of the national team, Yegor Yarmolyuk, who was called up from English side Brentford, shared his impressions of the call in a commentary to the UAF.

Rebrov greeted me and told me not to get nervous, because everything would be fine. I liked the training session. Everyone is friendly, we worked hard, and we are going to the hotel with a good result. Every person who has made it to the national team will have jitters at the first training session, at least

– Yarmolyuk said.

Yarmolyuk also shared that it would be a success for him to make his debut for the national team and win 2 games.

As in October, Oleksandriya's Ivan Kalyuzhny was called up to the national team.

Then Kalyuzhny shared that a call-up to the national team is better than a weekend.

When I got the call from the national team, after they told me that I was being called up, I was excited. But it was my dream. I worked hard, tried to do everything in my power on the football field to get here. Thank you for making it happen. I am very happy about it. I didn't have to cancel anything, because my wife and I planned to either stay in Oleksandriya or go to Kyiv. But a call-up to the national team is better for me than a weekend. The guys from the Oleksandriya team and the coach were the first to know. They were the first to congratulate me

– Kalyuzhny said at the time.

Reminder

Ukraine's national football team has already arrived in Batumi, Georgia, where it will begin a pre-match training session. Tomorrow , on November 16, the Blue and Yellows will play a match against the Georgian national team in the fifth round of the Nations League.

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush is dreaming of a move to Liverpool to replace Mohamed Salah in the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Salah’s future at Anfield remains unclear with a recent report claiming that the Egyptian’s situation is ‘increasingly unlikely to be sorted until later in the season’.

It is understood that Salah wants a three-year contract to stay at Anfield but Liverpool transfer expert David Lynch reckons the Reds could compromise and offer two years.

Lynch told Sports Mole: “[Liverpool are] massively helped by the fact that Salah clearly wants to stay and he’s made that clear repeatedly, and I think there’s a few social media posts being put out by him and his agent that suggest they’re just trying to nudge negotiations along but he clearly wants to stay.

“I still think there’s a case to be made that Salah would sign [a two-year contract extension]. I think that gives him the end of this season, then another two seasons – he’ll be right up there in the Premier League scorers list.

“I still think there’s a there’s a case to be made that they will reach that compromise on two.”

Frankfurt forward Marmoush, who has scored 14 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions this term, has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool and now Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk insists Salah’s compatriot is dreaming of joining the Reds.

Falk wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Bayern Munich have Omar Marmoush on their shortlist – this is true. But, you see, he’s not a perfect fit for their system. Bayern has a list that includes many strikers. It should be remembered that there’s a big link between Marmoush and Liverpool.

“It would be a big dream for the player to move to Anfield, especially because of the presence of Mohamed Salah. He would love to be Salah’s successor should his compatriot leave the club – it would mean a lot in his home country.

“Initial talks have already taken place with the Reds over a 2025 move. Other English clubs are also in the running but Marmoush wants to stay at Frankfurt until the summer – after that, a transfer is possible.”

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Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson has also been linked with Liverpool and other Premier League clubs but Falk doubts a move is on the cards until the summer.

Falk added: “We have to see what happens in the summer. Hugo Larsson is one of the most valuable players in the Frankfurt squad. Yes, there shall be interest from many Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. All of them are keeping an eye on the player.

“He’s a very humble guy and he doesn’t want to make all these quick steps, as he wants to make careful, considered decisions about his future. He gave an interview recently where he said he’s enjoying his time at Frankfurt and wants to make the journey with the club.

“He’s very honest in this point and clever enough to know that a January transfer wouldn’t necessarily be the best move for his career. It’s good he’s on the list of these clubs, but also they don’t need him now – he’s not such an experienced professional that he would immediately help someone in January.

“He would be an interesting option in the summer and Frankfurt isn’t such a big club that they wouldn’t sell him if a good offer came in. He has no release clause and has signed a new contract (keeping him at Frankfurt until June 2029), so everyone will have to wait. He is a topic for the Premier League, but not in the winter.”

The Ukrainian national team has arrived in Batumi for the match of the 5th round of the Nations League against Georgia. The game will take place on November 16 at 19:00 at the Adjara Bet Arena, with bookmakers estimating the teams' chances almost equally.

Ukraine's national football team has already arrived in Batumi, Georgia, where it will begin a pre-match training session. Tomorrow, on November 16, the Blue and Yellows will play a match against the Georgian national team in the fifth round of the League of Nations. This was reported by the Ukrainian Football Association, UNN reports.

This morning, the Blue and Yellows left Turkey for the venue of the fifth round of the Nations League match. In a few hours, the national team's pre-match training will begin, as well as traditional media activities

– reported the UAF.

Addendum

On November 16, the 5th round of the group stage match between Georgia and Ukraine in the B1 quartet will take place at the local Adjara Bet Arena (starting at 19:00 Kyiv time).

Match will be officiated by an English panel of judges headed by Chris Kavanagh. He will be assisted on the lines by Lee Betts and Neil Davies. Sam Barrott will act as the fourth referee. During his career as a referee, Kavanagh has never met Ukrainian teams.

The match will be available to watch on the MEGOGO platform, as well as on T2 digital broadcasting, and the match of the Ukrainian national team will be shown live on regional Suspilne TV channels.

Bookmakers do not have a clear favorite in this confrontation: Ukraine's victory is given at 2.71, and Georgia's victory at 2.75. The odds for a draw are 3.25.

Recall

Rukh defender Oleksiy Sych received his first call-up to the Ukrainian national team. Dynamo's Oleksandr Tymchyk left the team's camp before the matches against Georgia and Albania in the Nations League.

Final matches of the Nations League 2024/2025: how the national team of Ukraine is preparing for the matchesNov 13 2024, 12:16 PM • 15560 views

England have had nine players pull out of international duty this week and that’s a pattern repeated across football as players are massively over-worked.

Many international footballers have played three major international tournaments in three years and then started the Premier League 24/25 season already fatigued.

That has led to unprecedented numbers of injuries, particularly as UEFA have added more European games to the calendar with the expanded ‘Swiss model’ competitions.

We have looked at the seven Premier League clubs competing in Europe this season and calculated how many top-flight games have already been missed by senior players through injury. And it’s only November.

Ranked from lucky Chelsea to ravaged Manchester United…

7) Chelsea: 15 games missed
Injured players: Malo Gusto, Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Jadon Sancho

They’ve had the luck of the (blue) devils this season with even Reece James making it onto the pitch for four Premier League games this season. Is their fortune about to run out? Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto and Wesley Fofana have all withdrawn from international duty this week. Though some would have you believe that is all the fault of Thomas Tuchel. Yes, even the Frenchmen. Blame the GERMAN.

6) Liverpool: 24 games missed
Injured players: Alisson, Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones

Barring their goalkeeper – who has a very able deputy – Liverpool have been able to field pretty close to their first-choice XI over the first 11 games of the season, which has obviously helped them top the Premier League table. It’s hard to argue that they have missed Diogo Jota, with Darwin Nunez a £64m deputy.

A thigh injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold could potentially provide the first big test of the season, though Arne Slot has been consistent in giving minutes to Conor Bradley.

5) Aston Villa: 26 games missed
Injured players: Rodd Barkley, Matty Cash, Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Tyrone Mings, Amadou Onana.

Barring Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara – who are arguably not first choice anyway – most of these injuries have been relatively minor, with Unai Emery putting such niggles down to the increase in football. Villa have already played 17 games this season and there are plenty more to come. Six players have started all 11 Premier League games and Jhon Duran has come on to finish 11 too.

4) Tottenham: 30 games missed
Injured players: Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Heung-min Son, Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, Timo Werner

Barring the lesser-spotted Odobert and Richarlison, most of these missed games have been short spells on the sidelines or have largely effected fringe players. Possibly the most troublesome has been the thigh injury suffered by Van de Ven; without his pace and class, Spurs fell to embarrassing defeat to Ipswich Town.

READ: 16 Conclusions on the F365 Tables: Brighton for the Champions League as Postecoglou has it easy

3) Arsenal: 38 games missed
Injured players: Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White.

Aside from the epidemic of left-back injuries – note that we’re not even counting Kieran Tierney as a member of the first-team squad here – there is no doubt about the biggest injury loss for Arsenal this season. After the relative luck with injuries of the last two campaigns, the loss of Odegaard for seven games is one of several factors in the near-obliteration of their title chances.

He bowed out at the end of August and returned in November to an Arsenal side desperately needing a result against Chelsea to avoid full-blown crisis status. He delivered.

2) Manchester City: 42 games missed
Injured players: Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Rodri, John Stones, Kyle Walker.

It’s tricky for many to dredge up much sympathy for Manchester City but they have been robbed of the actual best player in the world for the majority of the season, while De Bruyne, Foden and Grealish have started only four Premier League games each. No title-chasing team should be forced to play Matheus Nunes on the left.

This is the greatest test of Guardiola as Manchester City manager; can he win the Premier League title without Rodri and with only one fit, in-form goalscorer? At the moment it is very much Advantage Liverpool.

1) Manchester United: 57 games missed
Injured players: Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Rasmus Hojlund, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro.

That list includes three players who have not kicked a ball in anger for the Manchester United first team this season, while Mount has barely figured at all (though he should have more chances under Ruben Amorim). As doomed as Erik ten Hag became after failing to produce a consistent style of player for United in over two years, he was not helped by injuries in a stuttering campaign.

The Ferrari 248 F1, which Michael Schumacher raced in 2006, is up for auction at RM Sotheby's. The legendary racer won 5 victories with this car and set a record for the number of pole positions.

The New York-based auction house RM Sotheby's has put up for auction the Ferrari 248 F1, which was used by seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher to fight for the title with Fernando Alonso in 2006.

Writes UNN with reference to Deutsche Welle.

The Formula 1 car of the legendary German racer Michael Schumacher is up for sale in New York. The auction house RM Sotheby's has announced a new lot of Ferrari 248 F1, which the native of Hürth competed in the 2006 season.

The auction will begin on Thursday, November 14.The 2006 season was the last for the seven-time Formula 1 champion with the Italian team, with which he spent 11 years. The car with chassis number 254 brought Schumacher victories five times, allowing him to climb to the top step of the podium.

It was in this car that Michael set a new record for the number of pole positions, surpassing the achievement of his idol Ayrton Senna.The season was marred by only two retirements, but added to the German's treasury with four pole positions and seven victories.

The tense struggle lasted until the last race, but Michael Schumacher finished the championship in second place in the individual standings, losing the title to Fernando Alonso of Spain.

Recall

Viktor Medvedchuk's watch has been put up for auction on Prozorro.Sale. The collection consists of 20 lots, with a total estimate of UAH 10.6 million.

That was, it would be fair to say, somewhat better than the Wembley sh*tshow against the same opponents at Wembley last month.

That night, Lee Carsley tried to cram all his attacking players on to the pitch in some kind of absurd radio phone-in XI that had no discernible structure. There was no such nonsense in Athens, where England – despite plenty of high-profile withdrawals – deployed a lot more round pegs in round holes and reaped the benefits.

By the end of a 3-0 win that leaves Nations League promotion firmly in their own hands they even had a left-footed left-back, if you can imagine such a thing. And we will make no apologies for enjoying this England win a little more given the way the infamous press pack had laid the groundwork for laying the blame for any failure to sort out a very decent Greece side firmly at Thomas Tuchel’s door.

JORDAN PICKFORD
Booked for time-wasting in the 27th minute, which was quite funny. Had a really good five minutes after that as England had a really dodgy five minutes. Which makes sense, really, when you think about it. In pretty quick succession he came smartly out of his area to snuff out the threat before releasing Madueke with a good longball, then made a smart stop from Tsimikas before punching clear from a corner.

Made another big save after the break and his judgement in and around the edge of his box was superb. Pickford has been a brilliant goalkeeper for England but not always a calming, reassuring one. He was that tonight, which England needed given the inexperience in front of him.

KYLE WALKER
Does finally look like time is catching up with him at long last. Greece didn’t carry the same attacking threat as they had at Wembley, but when they did it was generally via a Walker-bamboozling combination of Christos Tzolis and Kostas Tsimikas down the Greek left. Shuffled across to centre-back in the second half where he perhaps more understandably found life difficult. The right side of three centre-backs may be a familiar England position for Walker, but the right side of two is a very different beast. The spacing between Walker and Guehi never quite looked right and Greece found altogether too much joy in those spaces.

There is still just about enough recovery pace in there to get him out of trouble more often than not, though.

RICO LEWIS
Moved to right-back by the enforced half-time reshuffle and immediately both more comfortable and more involved in attacking positions. Wasn’t exactly run ragged in the first half but was clearly happier at right-back.

Made a good early run from an England counter and then drew a smart save from Odysseas Vlachodimos after a clever underlapping run as Madueke, for the umpteenth time, had Tsimikas on toast.

MARC GUEHI
Did a pretty solid job all things considered as the senior central defender in what started as a slightly makeshift defence and ended as a very makeshift defence, and behind a new-look central-midfield pairing too.

EZRI KONSA
Solid enough in the first half with Greece getting little joy through the centre and attacking mainly down the left flank and targeting Walker. Forced off at half-time by injury.

CURTIS JONES
Took a while to grow into his England debut and find the eye-catching Liverpool form that propelled him into this rejigged line-up. But grow into it he did and by the end, he was back-flicking nerve-settling third goals and then doing elasticos in his own half and looking every inch an England central midfielder. Which is meant as a compliment but reading it back doesn’t necessarily sound like one.

READ: Kane-less England justify Carsley’s ‘huge call’ with Tuchel given headache by Nations League advert

CONOR GALLAGHER
A careless early booking meant a long time atop the dreaded disciplinary tightrope, but he handled the responsibility and the challenge pretty adroitly. He’s already learning from Diego Simeone, isn’t he?

NONI MADUEKE
Superb run and cross for the opening goal. Delayed the cross until the perfect moment, displaying great understanding with Watkins and remained a thorn in Greece’s side in England’s enormously bright start. Turned Kostas Tsimikas on the outside and inside for the 57 minutes the Liverpool man spent on the pitch. Really bright display, running himself into the ground before making way for Jarrod Bowen.

JUDE BELLINGHAM
Wonderful ball to release Noni Madueke and take three Greece players out of the equation in the build-up to the opening goal, then got himself needlessly booked for arguing with the referee. Very late-2024 Bellingham, that. But he revelled in the freedom Greece inexplicably afforded him in that first half, frequently releasing both Madueke and Anthony Gordon to wreak havoc.

This was the Bellingham we all want to see, though, pulling strings and influencing games. Hit the post early in the second half with a really difficult header, and when his driving run and shot later produced the same result the ball ricocheted in off the unfortunate Vlachodimos.

Seems like it’s been really quite a long while since we’ve seen this kind of all-round Bellingham performance. It was most welcome.

ANTHONY GORDON
Brilliant early run past Lazaros Rota set the stall for England’s vibrant, rapid attacking play in those first 20 minutes, but the cross was just behind Ollie Watkins. Might have been perfect for the slower Harry Kane. Had plenty more of those moments – if perhaps not quite so many as Madueke – in one of his more encouraging England displays before making way for debutant Morgan Rogers midway through the second half.

OLLIE WATKINS
Controversially preferred to Harry Kane for his greater mobility and pace, he then proceeded to score the most Kane-for-England goal imaginable, with the possible exception of a penalty. Made his run then cleverly checked to almost allow the space to come to him before turning the ball home as Kane has done at least 25 times in his England career. Lovely, clever forward play at the end of a lovely, clever move, and he remained a key figure in England’s impressive start. Faded with the rest of England’s attack after the early minutes of the second half, prompting Lee Carsley to replace that entire front three. Which worked out pretty well.

SUBSTITUTES

LEWIS HALL (for Konsa, 46′)
A left-footed left-back! Playing at left-back! For England! The injury that forced the reshuffle that got Hall on the pitch was unwelcome, of course, but nice to know that England fans can occasionally have a left-footer out there, as a little treat. Rico Lewis also looked far happier when back on his familiar right flank in that second half, but the big takeaway was surely that Hall has to be ahead of Lewis – and any other right-back, frankly – in the left-back pecking order.

HARRY KANE (for Watkins, 67′)
The old man was wheeled out to see things home in the final quarter of the game. Didn’t really do all that much, in truth. The decision to leave him out of the starting line-up had the potential to be a big old stick with which to beat Lee Carsley, but it never.

MORGAN ROGERS (for Gordon, 67′)
There are a lot of England debuts these days, aren’t there? Makes us feel very old.

JARROD BOWEN (for Madueke, 67′)
Lovely little return pass to Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up to the third goal that put the result to bed.

MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE (for Gallagher, 79′)
You’d have to think that third goal might be Lee Carsley’s favourite moment in his brief yet eventful few months as England manager. Two of his U21 stars combined to such devastating effect as Gibbs-White and Jones did. There was obviously plenty of luck about England’s second goal, but the first and third really were lovely stuff.