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England’s interim manager Lee Carsley took a bold and ultimately ill-fated gamble with his team selection against Greece at Wembley, leading to a humiliating 2-1 defeat. With two previous victories in the Uefa Nations League, Carsley could have played it safe and strengthened his case to replace Gareth Southgate permanently. Instead, he opted for a high-risk, attacking lineup that backfired from the start.
Carsley’s response to the absence of captain Harry Kane was to forego a traditional striker, despite having options in Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins. Instead, he fielded a front-loaded attack including Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka. The result was a tactical disaster, with England struggling defensively and offensively. Greece took full advantage, with Vangelis Pavlidis scoring twice and England’s defense left exposed throughout the match.
The chaotic tactical approach saw England muster only two shots on target, one being Bellingham’s equalizer in the 87th minute. However, Pavlidis struck again deep into stoppage time, handing Greece a deserved win and leaving Carsley’s experimental lineup in tatters.
Post-match, Carsley took full responsibility, admitting that his attempt to “try something different” had failed. His decision to load the midfield and go strikerless backfired, leading to a disjointed performance. While Carsley downplayed the impact of the defeat on his future, his comments reflected uncertainty about his next steps.
The defeat marks a low point for Carsley, whose future as England’s permanent manager now appears far from certain. With a crucial match against Finland ahead, Carsley will be wary of taking further risks as he seeks to restore some clarity to his tactical approach and salvage his chances of securing the role.
