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England vs Greece LIVE: Nations League updates as Lee Carsley’s attacking experiment falls flat

Lee Carsley hopes to continue his winning start as England interim boss

Michael Jones
Thursday 10 October 2024 15:42 EDT
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Carsley says no England preference given to players at big clubs

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England play host to Greece in the Nations League as both teams look to continue their unbeaten in this top of the table encounter at Wembley.

Lee Carsley’s reign has got off to the perfect start with victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland during the September internationals. Harry Kane scored twice against the latter on his 100th appearance for the national side but is a doubt for this game after training away from the rest of the squad earlier in the week.

England have also been boosted by the returns of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer who will be causing the manager to think about how to fit all of them into the line-up.

Elsewhere, Greece have also won both of their Nations League outings, against the same opponents, but have outscored the Three Lions with five goals from those two games. This match represents the biggest test of the Carsley era so far but should England come through it they will be the favourites to win promotion back into League A.

Follow all the Nations League action with our live blog below:

HT England 0-0 Greece

Anyone fancy a few stats?

England created seven chances in the first half with just one on target. Despite having only 40% possession, Greece almost matched them with six chances and one on target.

Those chances don’t include the attempt that was cleared off the line nor the Greek disallowed goal.

Greece are calm and dangerous and can easily win this game if England don’t come up with a solution.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:42

HT England 0-0 Greece

(EPA)
(Adam Davy/PA Wire)
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:38

Half-time! England 0-0 Greece

45 mins: No minutes of added time to play. The whistle goes with Greece having created the better chances over the first half.

Lee Carsley’s experiment hasn’t worked, will he stick with it or switch things up after the break?

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:34

England 0-0 Greece

“Carsley's experiment hasn't really worked so far.

“Although England have weathered the way Greece got at them in those opening stages - not a great night for Jordan Pickford - there still isn't really coherence.

“The team currently looks like what it is: a lot of players out of position. It should be stressed that is actually fair enough.

“If there is ever time to experiment with an England team, it is surely in a Nations League home match when you've already won your first two games?”

Miguel Delaney at Wembley10 October 2024 20:33

England 0-0 Greece

43 mins: Another England corner, won be the pacey sprinting of Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon.

Trent Alexander-Arnold swings the ball into the middle of the box but once again the Three Lions fail to trouble the Greek defence.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:31

England 0-0 Greece

40 mins: Alexander-Arnold dinks the set piece into the penalty area this time, looking for John Stones near the back post. The ball gets intercepted and looped into the air before Vlachodimos takes control of it.

Not England’s best set piece.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:27

England 0-0 Greece

39 mins: The corner is taken short and sent to Palmer. He lifts a cross into the middle but Mavropanos rises higher than anyone else and nods it away.

Foden then wins a free kick in a dangerous position and Palmer willm fancy his chances again.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:26

England 0-0 Greece

37 mins: Foden and Bellingham combine on the edge of the box with some short, sharp passes but Foden can’t find enough space inside the area to take a shot.

The ball is sent back to John Stones but England come again quickly. They find Bukayo Saka who cuts onto his left foot and shoots winning England a corner.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:25

England 0-0 Greece

34 mins: England are still trying to get things to click. The players don’t look well drilled enough for this formation to work properly (they aren’t as they’ve only had three sessions to practice it).

What it is doing though is making the game entertaining. The fans inside the ground seem to be enjoying themselves.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:23

England 0-0 Greece

31 mins: Chance!

A cross comes in from deep with pace on it as Anthony Gordon bursts through the defence. He’s wide open but a ways out from goal when he attempts a headed effort.

He gets plenty of the ball but nods it over the top.

Mike Jones10 October 2024 20:18

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