Not only did Curtis Jones start on his England debut, the talented Liverpool midfielder also scored a fine goal as the Three Lions beat Greece 3-0.
With numerous players out and interim coach Lee Carlsey overseeing his final game, Jones was among those who benefited from his first start.
It gave England a comfortable win with the 23-year-old at the helm. Although he started in a deeper role, he operated with the freedom of a box-to-box midfielder.
The first goal came when Ollie Watkins finished off a flowing move following Noni Madueke’s setback. The Chelsea winger easily beat Kostas Tsimikas down the right flank.
Tsimikas forced Jordan Pickford into a brilliant save at the near post after some clever underlapping, and the goalkeeper was needed again in the second half.
England’s second goal came when Jude Bellingham cut through the middle, hit the post and slotted past Odysseas Vlachodimos and into the net.
Jones then made it 3-0 in the closing stages and went ahead when substitutes Morgan Gibbs-White and Jarrod Bowen combined to tip a cutback from Gibbs-White onto the back foot past Vlachodimos.
Great goal from Curtis Jones! ?
A beautiful little film and England win 3! ???????????????????????????????#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | @LFC pic.twitter.com/lkmbDJzRqO
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
It was a big moment for Jones, who was left out of the final Euros squad before withdrawing from Carsley’s group last October due to the birth of his daughter.
On his debut, he became the first Liverpool player to score for England since Sammy Lee in 1982. Opta.
sugar FotMobJones had the most touches (86), most passes completed (65/68), the third most duels won (seven), and tied for the most tackles (two).
“I tried, I tried!” He told ITV Sport he made a huge impression.
“It’s a young team. We’re all playing well for the club. We’re all exciting players who want to get on the ball and be creative! Even when we lost the ball we kept doing that.”
Interviewed by Jude Bellingham and Curtis Jones. @GabrielClarke05 attache @ukvictory over greece pic.twitter.com/zXFhO0Nkef
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
“Friends around me also helped me. “I just went out there, played freely, had a smile on my face, had fun and was happy to score a goal.”
When asked what freedom means to his game, Jones responded: “When you have a team like ours, you can go high, you can go low, you can get the ball, you can make the play.
“There are young people who will help, and there are young people who have said I can go too. Jude stayed behind and I knew I had a chance to go. That’s what I did and luckily I scored.”
?? “I’m not surprised. Curtis is a great player. I thought he did really well today even without the goal.”
Lee Carsley speaks. @GabrielClarke05 After the victory over Greece #ITVFootball | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/f69NDru4Cn
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024
Also speaking to ITV Sport, Carsley, who coached Jones at U21 level, was full of praise for his debutant.
“I’m not surprised. “Curtis is an outstanding player,” he said.
“I thought we did really well today even though we didn’t score a goal. “I’m really happy with his goal and his excellent performance.”
