England interim manager Lee Carsley’s all-out attacking strategy backfired badly as they slumped to a shock defeat by Greece in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley.
Jude Bellingham’s 87th-minute goal looked to have rescued a desperately disappointing England display after Vangelis Pavlidis gave Greece a deserved lead with a composed finish four minutes into the second half.
Greece responded to earn a deserved victory as Pavlidis struck again deep into stoppage time on a chastening night for England and interim boss Carsley.
In the absence of injured captain Harry Kane, Carsley went without a recognised striker by using Jude Bellingham in a false nine role and playing Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
The result was a disjointed, confused mess, as Carsley’s 100% record since succeeding Gareth Southgate was ended by a well-organised Greece side, who actually had the ball in the net five times only to see three ruled out for offside.
England were fortunate to survive until four minutes after the break, especially when keeper Jordan Pickford was stranded outside his area early on and had to be rescued by Levi Colwill’s superb goalline clearance from Tasos Bakasetas, but it was no surprise when Pavlidis put Greece ahead with a fine finish.
The Greek players interrupted their celebrations to lift a shirt bearing the name of George Baldock, their former international colleague, who died on Wednesday aged 31.
Carsley, seeing his tactical plan failing, sent on strike duo Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke, winning his second full cap seven years after his first.
England pushed for an unlikely victory after Bellingham fired high past Greece keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, but the visitors were a threat all night and punished Carsley’s side once more in a dramatic finale.
