Carsley relief as new-look England seize control of their destiny
The Guardian|November 15, 2024
It was the night when Lee Carsley dropped Harry Kane and came up smelling of roses, this a result not only to avenge the shapeless 2-1 Wembley defeat against Greece in October but to put England on the brink of automatic promotion back into the Nations League's A section.
- David Hytner Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis
Carsley relief as new-look England seize control of their destiny

It is difficult to remember Kane ever being axed for an England game, let alone a must-win big one - rather than rested or rotated. And it was especially bold from Carsley given he was without a host of big names.

It had to be Kane's replacement, Ollie Watkins, who scored the opening goal in the seventh minute and there were others who seized their opportunity, taking in Noni Madueke on the right wing but peaking, really, with Curtis Jones. On the occasion of his first cap, he strutted his stuff in central midfield and produced the moment of the night, a stunning first-time back-heeled finish from a pass from the substitute, Morgan Gibbs-White, for 3-0.

Jude Bellingham, also impressive, had forced the second after a surging run, yet another surging run, watching his low shot hit the post and go in off the Greece goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos. It left Carsley to reflect on almost reaching the target set for him by the Football Association during his interim tenure - lifting the team out of the Nations League's second tier. England moved above Greece to the top of the table on head-to-head results. They must now beat Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday to seal the deal.

It was an inexperienced England XI at a boisterous venue, Kane's omission at the outset framing so much. Carsley had gambled in Kane's injury-enforced absence against Greece at Wembley, going all-out attack, 4-2-4 with an array of attacking midfielders. This move was riskier. Kyle Walker had taken over the captain's armband. He was stony-faced when asked about Kane's exclusion beforehand.

この蚘事は The Guardian の November 15, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は The Guardian の November 15, 2024 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

THE GUARDIANのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Maresca 'happy' but Chelsea streak ends
The Guardian

Maresca 'happy' but Chelsea streak ends

The immediate aim of the Friedkin Group is to restore stability to Everton after their takeover on Thursday. In some ways, Sean Dyche has beaten his new employers to it. High-flying Chelsea became the latest team to run into a royal blue wall and out of ideas as they lost valuable ground in the title race.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024
The Sphinx's plot Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?
The Guardian

The Sphinx's plot Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?

Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?

time-read
4 分  |
December 23, 2024
Political football
The Guardian

Political football

Sport has shown me success is not about quick wins but collective effort

time-read
4 分  |
December 23, 2024
Usyk retains his class in and out of ring in beating Fury
The Guardian

Usyk retains his class in and out of ring in beating Fury

Boxing is full of unsavoury people but it also produces extraordinary men such as the heavyweight champion

time-read
5 分  |
December 23, 2024
Time for the cackling disrupter to make his exit but there is no shame in losing to a true great
The Guardian

Time for the cackling disrupter to make his exit but there is no shame in losing to a true great

In the end everyone runs out of road. It was probably necessary for Tyson Fury to say he was robbed in the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.

time-read
4 分  |
December 23, 2024
Theory of nothing earns Saints and Rusk worthy draw
The Guardian

Theory of nothing earns Saints and Rusk worthy draw

It turns out it wasn't so hard after all. Southampton stopped giving the ball away in their own half, adopted an approach rooted in expediency and kept their second clean sheet of the campaign.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024
Semenyo shatters United to leave Amorim facing squall
The Guardian

Semenyo shatters United to leave Amorim facing squall

After mid-morning wind and rain that might have caused Noah a problem, the skies cleared and Bournemouth took apart a Manchester United team as amateurish as any of the iterations of the past decade or so.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024
Burke helps Saracens show title ambitions
The Guardian

Burke helps Saracens show title ambitions

It was a cold, bleak midwinter afternoon in north London but the race to be crowned as England's top club side in 2025 is hotting up.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024
Pereira's Wolves reign gets off to flying start
The Guardian

Pereira's Wolves reign gets off to flying start

It took less than 45 minutes of Vítor Pereira's Wolves tenure for the fans to sing his name as he witnessed his new side thrash Leicester.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024
Díaz and Salah double up in leaders' statement win
The Guardian

Díaz and Salah double up in leaders' statement win

Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, having played one game fewer than second-placed Chelsea, with the latest illustration of their remorseless cut and thrust under Arne Slot.

time-read
3 分  |
December 23, 2024