Notwithstanding the fact that Lee Carsley’s tenure as England manager is unlikely to endure long, there have been some real advantages.

And those advantages were on full display here in Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium as England secured a desperately needed Nations League victory with to goals from Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jack Grealish.

All three of those goal scorers have profited from Carsley’s leadership, and they helped the national team regain order following Thursday’s chaotic 2-1 loss to Greece.

Jack Grealish celebrated becoming a dad by opening the scoringCredit: Getty

The winger slotted the ball home following a clever pass from Angel GomesCredit: Rex

Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a brilliant free-kick from 25 yardsCredit: AFP

It was his fourth England goalCredit: Getty

Declan Rice tapped home from close range to seal victory

Grealish scored the first goal under Carsley’s temporary rule, his second of the game, and became a parent for the first time last week.

 

After that, Rice scored his second goal in this fleeting “Carsball” era to seal the win before Alexander-Arnold curled home a wonderful free-kick. A late consolation followed.

 

Carsley doesn’t appear to be able to land this job permanently, let alone want it.

However, following his strategic epiphany against the Greeks, this was a return to cool rationality and a comfortable victory over modest opposition.

It was also England’s first trip to Helsinki’s famous Olympic Stadium since 2000, following the disarray at Wembley.

On that occasion, here in the capital of Finland, Howard Wilkinson managed a goalless draw after Kevin Keegan had quit in the restroom of the former national stadium.

 

Following the disastrous match against the Greeks on Thursday, Carsley stuck to his word and went with a more traditional lineup, with Harry Kane healthy enough to start at the front after suffering an ankle injury.

After a very nervous performance against Greece, the interim manager’s decision to bench Jordan Pickford—something Gareth Southgate hardly ever did—also made sense.

 

With his teammates dressed in Euro 96 gray, Dean Henderson was given his first England start and his first appearance in four years.

Carsley’s players looked as though they were still reeling from Thursday’s events as John Stones had to stop a shot from Benjamin Kallman and Angel Gomes gave up the ball deep in his own half.

In spite of that initial error, Gomes quickly recovered. The diminutive Lille native is an orderly midfield pivot who drives a team’s action.

 

Gomes’ exquisite assist for Grealish, following Bellingham’s effort that was deflected wide, was part of a magnificent team move that was by far England’s best play of a dull first half.

Alexander-Arnold had moved from his temporary left-back position into central midfield, and Grealish was the first to find him.

 

The Liverpool player found Gomes, who made a double move and laid a brilliant outside-of-the-boot pass for Grealish to finish.

 

The goal was only the Manchester City player’s second in three games played under Carsley, and his fourth overall in 39 caps.

 

Towards the end of the first half, England were careless and an Alexander-Arnold error allowed Fredrik Jensen to enter the game. Jensen should have punished the visitors but missed from close range. England had been controlling possession with no threat.

 

Early in the second half, Palmer, who had been extremely quiet on the right wing, cut inside and put Finland keeper Lukas Hradecky to the test.

 

Although England was taken off guard by a counterattack, the Finns remained a formidable opponent, and Jensen wasted another excellent opportunity when he spooned one from close range following a center from Topi Keskinen.

Hradecky was forced to make saves by Bellingham and Declan Rice, but England was not exactly winning. In the middle of the second half, Carsley changed things up by substituting Ollie Watkins for Kane and Noni Madueke for Palmer.

 

Soon, Watkins was setting Madueke up for success. He began to dance and terrified the Finnish defense with a low center that Hradecky knocked away.

 

Alexander-Arnold skillfully curled his attempt into the postage stamp after England won a free-kick on the left from 22 yards out. Hradecky did well to get a hand on the ball but was unable to keep it out.

 

After Bellingham and Gomes were replaced by Rico Lewis and Phil Foden, the third goal was scored shortly after.

 

Rice was able to tap in after Watkins ducked to the left and centred low to the near post.