New Delhi: England’s loss to Greece may have more than historical relevance; it could also determine the future of England’s football. After Lee Carsley had won the first two games in charge of the side, he was confident of having secured his job as Gareth Southgate’s successor and the top boss of the Three Lions.
However, the 50-year-old manager was hesitant to say the same after his side lost 1-2 against Greece in Wembley. While some may view it as a small dent in Carsley’s reputation, his gamble with team selection Thursday doesn’t speak well for his case of replacing Southgate. While he is at the other end of the spectrum from the last English manager, it might not be the best solution for the Three Lions.
Wrong team judgement from Carsley
Defeat at Wembley Stadium. pic.twitter.com/5dMIYpY5ef
— England (@England) October 10, 2024
With skipper Harry Kane unable to appear in the game due to an injury, England’s interim manager could have chosen to replace him with Dominic Solanke or Ollie Watkins. However, the team on the field featured all the attacking talent of England, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Jude Bellingham.
On paper, it looked like an ideal team promising an exciting game for the Three Lions, but on the field, the plan just backfired for Carsley. It is clear that all the young attackers cannot fit into one side. Tactically, the team was disorganized and very defensive, which the Greek side took full advantage of. They were able to find the back of the net five times, with three goals ruled offside. England would feel that they suffered an embarrassing loss against a side that was better at any given moment of the game.
Carsley maintains that despite the previous wins, he was just enjoying the job rather than focusing on his future as the boss of the English side. He admitted that the team didn’t start well, and their experimental formation didn’t succeed either. In total, the two noteworthy moments for England came from Bellingham’s shoe, with an early attack going over the pole and an 87th-minute equalizer.
With Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer in the upfield, Declan Rice was too often handling a charging Greek attack on his own. Palmer, though given a free hand to move forward, was placed too deep and often caught midway and unsure which way he was supposed to move. Gordon and Saka were ineffective in the wings. Bellingham featured in a false nine position, but there were too many players around him. Even Foden found it hard to play freely and operate at his own will.
Aftermath of England’s loss against Greece
For George ❤️🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/eAyeifhnkn
— Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) October 10, 2024
While not ruling himself in or out of being a contender to replace Southgate, Lee Carsley did mention that he was comfortable returning to his former role as the boss of the U-21 England team. With his tactical experiment failing, it was clear that Carsley wouldn’t mind returning to his role. A 1-2 loss against a team that had failed to qualify for Euros doesn’t go well in Carlsey’s CV. After Vangelis Pavlidis scored the decider in the stoppage time and collected a brace to his name, it was clear that the English spirit was somewhat broken.
Greece won its first game in 10 attempts at Wembley, exposing that while the English attack was too heavy, the defence was mostly two-on-two. It is the manner of loss that will hurt England the most. Carlsey’s tactical plan was too chaotic on a forgettable outing, and he probably wouldn’t play such a gamble again.
Carsley and company have a great chance to redeem themselves when they go to Helsinki to face Finland. However, the interim boss has to remember that he desperately needs the side to perform well if he wants to have any shot at the position of England’s manager.
After England lost 1-2 to Greece at the Wembley, Lee Carsley appeared less confident about being the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
