England interim coach Lee Carsley was made to look the fool for failing to start a striker after Greece claimed a famous 2-1 win at Wembley.
The Three Lions were outclassed with Carsley getting his tactics all wrong with Greece having the ball in the back of the net five times – with three ruled out for offside.
Vangelis Pavlidis had opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the break before pulling out a George Baldock shirt in a touching tribute to the 31-year-old, who died on Wednesday.
Greece continued to pile on the pressure throughout the contest with England’s defence often swarmed and unable to deal with the press.
Only the linesman saved England from further embarrassment with the Greeks left fuming after three goals were ruled out for offside.
Carsley had opted not to start a striker with Harry Kane missed through injury.
And after Greece took the lead, he canned his plans by getting Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke on as soon as possible.
The change in tactics saw Jude Bellingham score a screamer – his first goal since his overhead kick winner against Slovakia at the European Championship.
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But it meant little as Greece, once again utilising a high press to take command of shoddy England defending, scored a 94th-minute winner through Pavlidis again.
It sent the Greek fans inside Wembley wild, who had been singing throughout the contest after turning up in droves.
England, meanwhile, cannot lament their opponents after such a poor display – managing just two shots on target.
That was despite the array of attacking talents that Carsley had deployed – Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Bellingham.
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Jude Bellingham had scored a rocket to equalise for England
PA
But with so many players all operating in similar positions, they all ended up in their own way and plenty of attacks ended in a mess.
Greece, though, looked clinical and pinpoint – pressing exactly when they needed to and picking the ball up as England’s poor passing out from the back was punished.
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Greece paid a touching tribute to George Baldock
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They scored two times from such attacks, only to see them ruled out for offside, but the one that mattered right at the end stayed on the scoreboard.
It was pinball in England’s box, who had plenty of time to deal with the danger and just clear the ball – Rico Lewis and John Stones were guilty – before Pavlidis took control and slotted past Jordan Pickford.
England could have topped their Nations League group but now will likely need a win to earn promotion automatically.
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