Lee Carsley’s Gamble Backfires as Greece Stun England

Lee Carsley’s risky gamble with his team selection in a 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley could jeopardize his chances of succeeding Gareth Southgate. Despite two prior Nations League wins, Carsley opted for an attacking lineup without a recognized striker even though he had options like Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins. Instead, he filled the team with offensive talents like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, resulting in a tactical mess that left England exposed defensively.

Greece took full advantage, scoring twice through Vangelis Pavlidis with three other goals ruled offside. England, disjointed and chaotic, managed only two shots on target both from Bellingham. Even his late equalizer couldn’t save them as Greece struck again deep into added time. The defeat marks Greece’s first win at Wembley and makes them the lowest-ranked team (48th) to beat England in a competitive match on home soil since 2005.

For Carsley, it was a serious misstep with a confused tactical approach that included no striker at the start and two by the end, signaling desperation. Post-match, Carsley took full responsibility, admitting his experiment failed and left England vulnerable. He also caused confusion by suggesting he might return to his role with the Under-21s but later clarified that nothing was decided.

While the loss doesn’t definitively rule him out of contention for the permanent role, it certainly damages his prospects. Lee Carsley will now face Finland where the pressure to deliver clarity and results will be even higher.