England 'B' team today regained some of the prestige lost in Stockholm on Friday. Compact and intelligent team work brought decisive victory over Finland.
It was a great exhibition of Soccer, though Finland must be rated one of the weakest sides in Europe. And tonight the England selectors face a problem as they discuss teams for Wednesday—to meet Norway in Oslo and Holland in Amsterdam. There must be several changes in each XI. It would not surprise me if at least five of the 'B' team were promoted for the match against Norway. I expect the choice to be: Williams; Ellerington, Aston; Harrison, Franklin, Wright; Finney, Mortensen, Wilshaw, Mannion, Mullen.
Our 'A' team's defeat by Sweden undoubtedly kept the size of this Helsinki crowd down. The gate of 22,218 was more than 2,000 short of the record expected. Though the fierce sunshine and the small Continental ball on a narrow ground unsuitable for international football were all against the England XI, they played magnificently.
For the first 20 minutes England were baffled by the light ball and strange Finnish tactics. In the second half, however, they had their opponents floundering and bewildered. But for goalkeeper Sarnola, a slender giant taller than Frank Swift, and missed chances the score would have mounted rapidly. Inside forwards Mannion and Morris continually schemed for openings. They were well assisted by Parsons and Mullen, while Wilshaw led the line with great dash.
Mullen scored the first goal in the 42nd minute and in the second half, Morris (3 min.). Wilshaw (6 and 20 min.) put on goals, while Mannion and Wilshaw, between them, struck the cross-bar on four other occasions.
Finland, I am told, have not won an international since 1939. I don't think they will while employing tactics as crude as these. The only good feature of their play was forceful shooting on the few occasions they had a chance.
After the match, the teams lined up and a Finnish expert, over the loudspeaker, named the best player on each side. He chose Sarnola, Finland goalkeeper, and Parsons, England outside-right. I agree with his choice of Sarnola but thought that Ellerington, Leuty and Mannion ought to have been bracketed with Parsons.
 
 

May 15th was another warm day, the hottest of the year in Helsinki, when the English 'B' team played Finland in the Olympic Stadium, where the 1952 Olympics will take place.
Although the visitors had the better of the play it was not until two minutes from half-time that they scored, with Mullen netting from an acute angle. The Finns had to defend desperately to keep out a vigorous English attack. In the second half the English forwards found their form and were soon three goals up. Morris scored from close in, in the third minute, after a clever movement with Mullen and Mannion, while three minutes later Wilshaw got a second goal later in almost identical fashion. The Finns fought hard to get a goal but the Englishmen, winning 4-0, were always masters of the situation.