England will try to be back from their recent loss as they face Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, October 13, 2024, in Helsinki. After a 2-1 defeat against Greece, England aims to get back on track with a win.
England had a surprising loss at home to Greece, with Vangelis Pavlidis scoring two goals, including a last-minute goal that gave Greece the win. Now second in Group B2, England needs a win to keep their hopes of returning to League alive after being assigned a lower position last season.
Even though England won their first two matches, including a 2-0 win against Finland last month, they are still behind Greece in the group standings. Winning this away match is important for their chances of moving up.
England will be missing some of their key players. Captain Harry Kane is unlikely to play due to fitness concerns, so Dominic Solanke or Ollie Watkins may start as the main striker. Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury, and Jack Grealish is doubtful after missing the game against Greece. Curtis Jones has also withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons.
Even with these absences, England’s squad remains strong. Jordan Pickford is expected to start as the goalkeeper, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Marc Guehi, and Levi Colwill likely to play in defense. Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are expected to start in midfield, while young attackers like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden could contribute in the forward line.
Finland, currently at the bottom of Group B2, will be looking to give their best at home. They lost 2-1 to the Republic of Ireland in their last game but have shown decent form at home. Finland will try to challenge England and secure their first win of the tournament.
Finland’s goalkeeper, Lucas Hradecky, who is in good form for Bayer Leverkusen, will play an important role in stopping England’s attack. Their all-time top scorer, Teemu Pukki, is likely to return after missing the last match. Rasmus Schuller and Matti Peltola will play key roles in midfield.
In their last meeting, Finland held a strong defense in the first half, but England eventually won 2-0. This time, Finland might use a defensive strategy again, trying to frustrate England and look for counterattack opportunities.
England is expected to dominate the match, especially in the second half when Finland could get tired. Despite the absence of key players, this may not be a high-scoring game, but England is still favored to win.
Experts predict a 2-0 win for England, with Cole Palmer, who is in good form for Chelsea, seen as a key player. Finland will try to disrupt England’s plans, but the Three Lions’ overall quality gives them a good chance to win.
The match will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten channels and streamed on SonyLIV in India.
