Lee Carsley has indicated England will return to a more traditional approach when they face Finland this Sunday, following a disappointing Nations League defeat to Greece. The caretaker manager is keen to correct the deficiencies exposed in the 2-1 defeat at Wembley last Thursday.
That defeat followed Gareth Southgate’s tenure, which ended after England lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain, leading to Carsley’s temporary appointment.
Carsley started his tenure in positive fashion, with convincing wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland during the September international break, sparking optimism among fans for a return to Nations League A.
In that match against Greece, Carsley made several bold changes to his starting XI, including deploying Jude Bellingham in a false nine role. Unfortunately, this strategy did not bear fruit and England failed against a dynamic Greek team.
Speaking to the media, Carsley stood firm on his decision to experiment against Greece, saying he does not regret those choices. Nevertheless, he signaled a return to a more familiar formation for the meeting with Finland.
“I find the pressure quite tough, but it’s something I’ve gotten used to over my long career as a professional footballer,” Carsley said in response after the Greece match. “The reaction to our performance is valid, and I expect a strong response in our next game. Looking back, I might look back on this in a few months and believe it made me better as a coach. It was crucial to try something different, but now it looks like we’re taking a more conventional approach to the Finland game.”
Carsley’s experimental tactics were partly due to the absence of captain Harry Kane, who is expected to return and has just made his 100th appearance for the national team, scoring twice in last month’s encounter with Finland.
“We had a training session yesterday, and both Harry and Jack Grealish did well,” added Carsley. “We are in good momentum and it is essential to keep the group fresh as we go into the next game.”
As for the formation chosen against Greece, Carsley opted for an attacking team featuring Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden and Bellingham, with Rice as the only defensive midfielder. Given the wealth of attacking talent at his disposal, the coach aimed to maximize attacking options, but this left the defense vulnerable, allowing Greece to easily exploit spaces.
Jordan Pickford had a difficult night in goal, conceding two shots, but VAR intervention helped England by canceling out a few more potential goals against them. Critics noted that Carsley could have fielded more traditional midfielders like Curtis Jones, Angel Gomes or Conor Gallagher to provide better support for Rice.
The choice to position Bellingham as a false nine was also controversial, especially when Ollie Watkins was available on the bench as a more traditional striker option.
As for the next match against Finland, Carsley faces challenges as Jones left the team for personal reasons, but he still has Gomes and Gallagher at his disposal. Bellingham could find himself in a deeper midfield role alongside Rice to bolster the team’s defensive capabilities against counterattacks.
With Saka injured, Palmer could take his place on the right wing, while Anthony Gordon or Phil Foden should occupy the left flank. If deemed fit, Kane should lead the attack, despite some criticism of his form at Bayern Munich.
It is crucial for Carsley to find balance in his XI against Finland; a defeat could allow Greece to extend their lead over England in the group and solidify their position as a strong contender for automatic promotion.
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