Trent Alexander-Arnold silenced his critics in style on Sunday, scoring a stunning free-kick to seal England’s 2-0 victory over Finland.
After Jack Grealish gave the Three Lions a first-half lead, Finland remained a constant threat, creating chances that could have easily seen them equalize.
England, shaken by their shocking 2-1 loss to Greece earlier in the week, knew they had to secure all three points to keep their promotion hopes to League A alive. The defeat to Greece had left the team in a precarious position, and another slip-up would have been disastrous. With Finland pushing hard for a leveller, it was Alexander-Arnold who stepped up to calm nerves and deliver a moment of brilliance.
MORE NEWS: Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold Reveals What It Will Take to Secure His Next Contract
In the 74th minute, the Liverpool right-back produced a moment of magic with a free-kick that will be remembered for years. Standing over the ball, Alexander-Arnold curled a precise shot over the Finnish wall and into the net, leaving Bayer Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky helpless despite getting a fingertip to it. The goal effectively ended Finland’s resistance and ensured England took home the crucial win.
The pundits, predictably, had high praise for Alexander-Arnold’s moment of brilliance. Former England defender Stuart Pearce, covering the game for talkSPORT, couldn’t hide his admiration for the strike. “That’s a superb free-kick. The goalkeeper had no chance!” he remarked during his commentary.
Sky Sports analyst and former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie also weighed in on the quality of the full-back’s finish. “It’s a fantastic free-kick, and we finally have that second goal. Trent has delivered again,” Hendrie said. “Since the introduction of Ollie Watkins and Noni Madueke, England have been stretching Finland. Trent does everything right with the shot – he whips it with such pace that it beats the goalkeeper, even though Hradecky got a fingertip on it. That’s probably the one big positive from England in this second half.”
Matthew Upson, a former Arsenal and West Ham defender, was equally impressed while providing live commentary for BBC Radio 5 Live. “We all knew it was a perfect situation for Trent, but he still had to execute, and he absolutely did that. What a strike from his right foot! We’ve seen him do it time and time again, but this was special,” Upson explained. “The ball bent beautifully over the wall, and while it snuck inside the near post, it was the sheer pace that made it unstoppable.”
Alexander-Arnold’s ability to deliver in these high-pressure moments is something fans have come to expect, especially after his numerous free-kick goals for Liverpool in the Premier League. His latest contribution for the national team couldn’t have come at a more crucial time, as England fights to avoid slipping out of contention in their Nations League group.
While Finland posed a genuine threat throughout the match, Alexander-Arnold’s goal ensured England held on for a much-needed victory. It wasn’t the most dominant performance from Gareth Southgate’s side, but the win will be a relief after the midweek embarrassment against Greece. England’s defensive resilience, paired with Alexander-Arnold’s moment of class, proved just enough to secure the win.
In the end, while Finland’s persistence and quality showed that England still have areas to work on, Alexander-Arnold’s contribution underlined the importance of individual brilliance in tight matches. His free-kick didn’t just secure the result but also gave the team a much-needed boost of confidence as they move forward in the competition.
The 2-0 victory puts England back on track, and Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick will surely go down as one of the standout moments of their Nations League campaign so far.
COMMENTS