Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher and Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored their maiden England goals in a 5-0 Nations League win over Republic of Ireland to secure promotion to League A.
Harry Kane fired England ahead from a 53rd minute penalty after Ireland’s Liam Scales was red carded two minutes earlier, following his foul on Jude Bellingham.
Anthony Gordon’s 56th minute volley and Conor Gallagher’s58th minute strike saw the pair claim their first senior international goals, as England consolidated their win with a 75th minute effort from substitute, Jarrod Bowen.
Debutant, Harwood-Bellis completed the promotion-clinching victory with a 79th minute header, as the Three Lions topped League B2 from Greece who now face the League A-B promotion-relegation play-offs.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live post-match, Harwood-Bellis described his debut and “magical” goal as “a great day…” for himself and his family, but iterated that he believes that the door to senior call-up is now believable.
“There’s always a pathway and us young ones, we do believe we can get into the seniors. We know the door is open if we take our chances, I’ve got to thank Lee [Carsley] for calling me up and I have repaid him with a nice goal.
“Playing for my country at every level is something I take such pride in. To play for the seniors is something you dream of, it is the pinnacle off football, to do it and score is some feeling.”
England will now complete in League A in 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, whilst Ireland go into the promotion-relegation play-offs between League B’s third-placed and C’s second-placed teams.
Knowing that victory would guarantee promotion to League A irrespective of what Greece achieved in Helsinki, England enjoyed a positive pressing start against a resilient Irish defence.
Ireland goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher though quickly established himself as a tough nut to beat, as he blocked Noni Madueke’s fifth minute cutback pass which Curtis Jones subsequently fired wide via a deflection.
Kyle Walker then nodded the consequential corner over the bar before Kelleher saved Lewis Hall’s rebound cross just three minutes later, followed by Kane’s soft header in the 21st minute from Hall’s direct ball.
Madueke proved England’s bright spark in a dominant opening half-hour during which he teed up Bellingham with a 11th minute cutback pass, but the Real Madrid midfielder’s shot was blocked.
Ireland however held firm with the game deadlocked at half-time, but England remained on course to top the group with Greece’s game also goalless at the break.
England ultimately broke Ireland’s resistance with a 51st minute through-ball from Kane into the box for Bellingham, who was brought down by Scales which earned the Irish defender a second yellow card and dismissal.
Amidst the chaos, Anastasios Bakasetas fired Greece top a minute later with their opening goal in Helsinki.
Kane however restored the Three Lions to the summit in the 53rd minute as he dispatched his penalty into the right corner.
Greece however responded in the 56th minute through Christos Tzolis – despite staying second on goal difference – as they eventually beat relegated Finland 2-0 in Helsinki.
Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon however combined mere seconds later to put England back top, as the latter volleyed in on his right foot from Livramento’s cross for his first senior international goal.
England quickly consolidated their lead two minutes later as Gallagher turned Marc Guehi’s knockdown header in at the left-post, which marked Gallagher’s first senior international goal on his 21st cap.
England proceeded to make four changes – including a triple change in the 75th minute which quickly paid off, as Bowen turned in from Bellingham’s pass with his first touch to secure promotion to League A and England’s fourth goal of the game.
Debutant, Harwood-Bellis added the fifth goal with a 79th minute header from Bellingham’s cross, just 17 minutes after he came on for Kyle Walker as England went on to see out victory and promotion.
“Exciting New Players” for England
Minutes after the final whistle, FA Chief Executive Officer, Mark Bullingham thanked interim manager, Lee Carsley and his coaching team for his work to secure promotion, before Thomas Tuchel takes charge from 1 January 2025.
“Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.
“He has selected some exciting new players and will be providing Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry with a very detailed handover as they start work on our qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Bullingham also confirmed that Carsley will return to his Under-21s role as manager, with the aim of claiming back-to-back Euro titles next summer.
“The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles. Lee will now return to the Under-21s and will continue to play a vital role supporting the seniors by developing England’s best young players.
“His leadership and coaching gives us the best possible chance of back-to-back U21 Euro wins next summer, and he will continue to play a big part in elite football development across the FA.”
What’s Next?
England and Ireland will discover their Qualifying groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday 13 December.
Ireland though will be involved Nations League’s promotion/relegation play-offs in March 2025, of which they will discover their opposition on Friday 22 November at 11am GMT.
Teams
England – Jordan Pickford, Tino Livramento, Kyle Walker (Harwood-Bellis 62′), Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Curtis Jones (Gomes 79′), Conor Gallagher (Solanke 75′), Noni Madueke (Bowen 75′), Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon (Rogers 75′), Harry Kane
Substitutes: Rico Lewis, Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Dean Henderson, Jarrell Quansah, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Solanke, James Trafford
Ireland – Caoimhin Kelleher, Callum O’Dowda (Azaz 67′), Liam Scales, Mark McGuiness, Dara O’Shea, Nathan Collins, Sammie Szmodics (McAteer 86′), Josh Cullen (Moran 76′), Jayson Molumby, Fetsy Ebosele (Manning 67′), Evan Ferguson (Parrott 67′)
Substitutes: Mark Travers, Max O’Leary, Matt Doherty, Ryan Manning, Jake O’Brien, Andrew Moran, Conor Coventry, Finn Azaz, Kasey McAteer, Mikey Johnston, Troy Parrott, Tom Cannon
Leave a Reply