Interim England manager Lee Carsley has emphasized that his squad selections will be based solely on merit during his tenure, ensuring no player feels entitled to a place. Carsley, 50, made four changes to the squad that won their last two Nations League matches, including recalling Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke for the first time in seven years.
With England’s upcoming matches against Greece and Finland in focus, Carsley said, “I wanted to make sure it feels fresh… It shouldn’t be something that is taken for granted.” He replaced Eberechi Eze, Harry Maguire, Tino Livramento, and Jarrod Bowen with Jude Bellingham, Kyle Walker, and Solanke. Notably, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Tottenham’s James Maddison, and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford were left out.
Acknowledging the challenge of leaving quality players out, Carsley said, “The reality is you want a player to be coming in in top form.” He stressed the importance of success in the Nations League for future World Cup qualification, regardless of whether he remains in charge.
With world-class number 10s like Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer available, Carsley described England’s attacking depth as a “nice problem to have,” rejecting suggestions that it could be an issue. He is keen to find balance while giving each player an opportunity to shine.