England played their third and fourth group matches in UEFA Nations League B: Group 2 and now sit second in the table after picking up just three points from a possible six. Defeat at Wembley against Greece was followed by victory in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. England will now likely need to win in Athens to top the group to secure an automatic return to League A and, one hopes, a higher profile set of opponents. Remember, your frustration with the Nations League is likely a consequence of England’s relegation rather than the competition itself, which tries to add context and competition to an international break which would happen regardless.

Lee Carsley has taken the headlines as England managers invariably do, and understandably so. A first ever loss to the Greeks will hardly have enhanced his credentials for the permanent job. But was it actually that bad? I found myself quite enjoying the first half against Greece. Cole Palmer dropped deep to collect the ball and try to start attacks, meaning that we didn’t have to suffer through hundreds of sideways passes between the defenders. The idea was a bold one, and I admire Carsley for trying something different. Aesthetically, it was better than other games in recent times.

Wasn’t this what we were crying out for during England’s Euro 2024 campaign? Gareth Southgate took enormous criticism for leaving a wealth of talent on England’s bench. Carsley, on the other hand, has tried to get as many of the top attacking players on the field at once as possible. 

Carsley’s hand was forced, to an extent, by Harry Kane’s absence. Watkins, Kane’s potential replacement, has qualities running in behind and turning defenders and is therefore preferred when the game needs to be stretched. So why not try something new?

I’d argue that Carsley was let down by a number of poor individual performances. Jordan Pickford lost concentration early in the game and never looked like regaining it. We have seen him look vulnerable for Everton in the past but never to that extent with England. Rico Lewis was hurried at left back, as if international football may have come slightly too early for him. Phil Foden was non-existent, and it might be time to abandon him for England, despite his strong performances for Man City. Perennial Premier League performers Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon looked to have more pace than guile on this occasion.

Jude Bellingham was England’s best player again despite playing out of position and drawing England level with a lovely finish, but still received criticism from the mainstream media. In the first half, he ran through behind the Greek defence only to pick out Palmer, who skied the shot into the stands with the goal gaping. Had that chance been taken, how different could the result have been? Would that have affected the fallout?

England bounced back with victory in Finland. Six changes – including Pickford – and a return to a more pragmatic style of play. The return of Harry Kane and the double pivot in midfield meant that there was space for only three of England’s creative contingent, as opposed to the five who featured against Greece. Did Carsley lose his bottle after Thursday’s defeat? As it was in the Summer, the noise remains negative despite the fact that England were able to grind out a result.  

Ultimately, football remains a results business and Carsley is expected to top a group containing Greece, Ireland, and Finland. But if he builds towards a successful World Cup campaign in 2026 all of these minor detours will be wholeheartedly forgiven. Don’t let them stop you trying to play your way, Lee.

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By Leon Parrott