England recovered from their humiliating loss to Greece in the UEFA Nations League with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Finland, though the performance still left questions unanswered. Interim manager Lee Carsley made six changes from the side that lost at Wembley, with Dean Henderson stepping in for Jordan Pickford in goal, but the team struggled to shine until Finland, ranked 64th and without a point in the group, tired in the final stages.

Jack Grealish eased England’s early nerves with a composed finish in the 18th minute, capitalizing on an excellent pass from Angel Gomes. However, Finland had opportunities to pile more pressure on England, with striker Fredrik Jensen missing crucial chances, including a close-range effort after the break that he sent over the bar.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, deployed at left-back in another unconventional move by Carsley, delivered a moment of brilliance with a stunning 25-yard free-kick that flew past Finland’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky in the 74th minute, putting England 2-0 up. As Finland’s energy waned, Declan Rice added a third goal from close range with six minutes left, giving the scoreline a flattering look for the visitors.

Finland, to the delight of their 32,000-strong home crowd, got a deserved consolation goal when Arttu Hoskonen found the back of the net after England failed to clear a corner. Despite their spirited efforts, the hosts couldn’t prevent England from taking all three points, though Carsley’s side still have much to improve.

Jannik Sinner delivered an outstanding performance to defeat Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final, preventing the 37-year-old from claiming the 100th title of his illustrious career. The 23-year-old Italian, currently ranked world number one, secured a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory, adding to his dominant 2024 season.

Djokovic was aiming to join the exclusive club of players with 100 career titles, a feat achieved only by Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). Despite missing out on this milestone, the 24-time Grand Slam champion remains focused on his primary goals. “I’ve achieved all of my biggest goals in my career,” Djokovic said, emphasizing that while the 100th title would be special, his current focus is on Grand Slam victories and pushing his personal limits.

Sinner’s win in Shanghai marks his seventh title this year, capping off an extraordinary season in which he has won 65 of 71 matches. His impeccable form in 2024 has already brought him victories at both the Australian Open and US Open, further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s brightest talents. However, his success comes amid an ongoing doping case, which, though initially cleared, continues to cast a shadow over his accomplishments.

Uncapped Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento have been called up to the senior England squad ahead of this week’s crucial Nations League matches against Greece and Finland.

Jones, 23, had his first taste of senior selection in May when Gareth Southgate included him in a provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, though he didn’t make the final cut. His impressive performances for the Under-21s, especially during England’s triumph in the 2023 European Under-21 Championship under interim manager Lee Carsley, have earned him another opportunity at the senior level.

Livramento, who was part of last month’s squad but didn’t feature in the games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, has once again been called upon by Carsley, who is serving as England’s interim manager.

Meanwhile, captain Harry Kane trained separately from the rest of the squad at St George’s Park but is expected to be fit for Thursday’s game against Greece at Wembley. Manchester City’s Jack Grealish also missed training as a precaution due to a minor knock, but his status for the upcoming matches remains hopeful.

The Three Lions will aim to secure key victories as they face Greece at home before traveling to Finland on Sunday to complete their Nations League fixtures.