Jack Grealish has revealed what he told Trent Alexander-Arnold seconds before he scored a sensational free-kick in England’s 3-1 win against Finland in the Nations League.
Lee Carsley’s team rebounded strongly against Finland after their surprising loss to Greece at Wembley on Thursday.
England took the lead with a goal from Jack Grealish, who scored thanks to an excellent assist from Angel Gomes, making his second start for the national team.
In the second half, Alexander-Arnold sealed the victory with a stunning free-kick, followed by Declan Rice adding a third goal.
Finland managed to score a consolation goal in the 87th minute, preventing Dean Henderson from keeping a clean sheet in his first competitive match.
Despite the four goals, the match was relatively uneventful, with Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick being the highlight.
After the game, Grealish shared with ITV that he jokingly pressured the Liverpool full-back by offering a cash prize for scoring. “I told him, just as a joke, that if he scored I’d give him 500 quid, and then he nailed it in the top corner, so I owe him,” Grealish said.
The Manchester City winger also reflected on his performance after scoring his second goal since not making the Euro 2024 squad.
“It all stems from the manager allowing us to play freely. I train with Angel every day, and I know how talented he is. I haven’t watched it again yet, but I recall it being a fantastic assist,” he said.
When asked about his celebration, Grealish mentioned it was in honor of his newborn daughter. “Yeah, that was for my little girl. I’m so happy, so that one was for her.”
