England vs Finland Match Analysis & Prediction
10/09/2024 9:45 pm
After enjoying a perfect start in charge of England, Lee Carsley’s Wembley inauguration takes place on Tuesday night, when the Three Lions host Finland in their second UEFA Nations League match of the month.
The hosts kicked off the post-Gareth Soutgate era with a 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, while Finland were beaten 3-0 by Greece to fall to the bottom of the pile.
While Declan Rice – who even took part in a handful of senior internationals for Ireland before switching allegiance – held his hands up in apology after scoring an 11th-minute opener, Jack Grealish did not hold back, fist-pumping his way to the England crowd after adding a second against his erstwhile nation.
Carsley has added some credit in the bank with the FA as the governing body scope out permanent successors to Southgate, and his England side occupy second position in League B Group 2 at present, only behind Greece on goal difference.
That standing would be enough to secure England a spot in the promotion playoffs, but in order to return to the promised land of League A, the Three Lions must now end a barren Wembley run, having not won a Nations League game at home since November 2020, failing to score in two of their three matches since then.
A few hours after England’s contest against Ireland concluded, Finland sought to spring a surprise on Greek soil under long-serving head coach Markku Kanerva, but the Scandinavian side were condemned to a humiliating start to their latest Nations League campaign.
While Panathinaikos marksman Fotis Ioannidis made his mark at thhe correct end of the pitch with a brace, Finland striker Benjamin Kallman put the ball past his own goalkeeper to contribute to a 3-0 defeat for his side, who are now on a three-game winless run.
When Bayer Leverkusen invincible Lukas Hradecky made a horror mistake to gift Greece their first goal – allowing a backpass to roll under his feet for Ioannidis to score – it was clear that lady luck was not on Finland’s side, and Kanerva’s side are already propping up the four-team standings.
The 2024-25 Nations League campaign represents Finland’s third straight year in League B, having topped their League C standings in the inaugural edition, but the Huuhkajat are already fighting a steep battle to retain their second-tier status.
England vs. Finland Head to head
In the previous seven meetings between these two teams, England have claimed five victories while they have drawn in two. Finland have scored five goals and conceded 16 in the process.
-
17/10/1984England5Finland0World Cup Qualifiers
-
22/05/1985Finland1England1World Cup Qualifiers
-
03/06/1992Finland1England2Friendlies
-
11/10/2000Finland0England0World Cup Qualifiers
-
24/03/2001England2Finland1World Cup Qualifiers
England Team News
Captain Harry Kane made his 99th appearance for his nation on Saturday, and the Bayern Munich man is now set to become the 10th man to reach the 100 mark.
Kane should form part of an unchanged attacking quartet with Grealish, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, and it would not be a complete surprise to see Carsley stick with an unchanged XI from the Dublin win.
England's Last 5 Matches
-
30/06/2024EnglandE 2Slovakia1Euros
-
06/07/2024EnglandP 1Switzerland1Euros
-
10/07/2024Netherlands1England2Euros
-
14/07/2024Spain2England1Euros
-
07/09/2024Republic of Ireland0England2Nations League
Finland Team News
Finland were dealt a pair of blows both before and during their loss to Greece, as midfielder Kaan Kairinen sustained a pre-match injury before Rasmus Schuller was forced off just before the halftime whistle.
Urho Nissila replaced Schuller in the weekend’s defeat and should now step in from the start, while both Joel Pohjanpalo and Teemu Pukki are alternative striking options to own-goal victim Kallman.
Finland's Last 5 Matches
-
21/03/2024Wales4Finland1Euros Qualifiers
-
26/03/2024Finland2Estonia1Friendlies
-
04/06/2024Portugal4Finland2Friendlies
-
07/06/2024Scotland2Finland2Friendlies
-
07/09/2024Greece3Finland0Nations League
England vs. Finland: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 1
Best Odds
1000% Super Multi Bonus
Up to 10 times (1000%) larger winnings on bets placed during Happy Hour
CLAIM BONUS