Well, that wasn’t in the script.
Lee Carsley’s future has been thrown into all sorts of doubt with England stuttering to a 2-1 defeat at home to Greece.
The honeymoon is over for CarsleyGetty
Jude Bellingham appeared to have spared England’s blushes when he equalised with a powerful strike on 87 minutes, however, two goals from Vangelis Pavlidis gave the visitors a first ever win over England.
The Greeks had plenty of opportunities to claim a shock win having put the ball in the net on three other occasions, but offside saw the goals not get given. Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford nearly cost England a goal with a sloppy giveaway.
This is a major setback in Carsley’s audition to get the so-called ‘impossible job’ on a permanent basis with England now in danger of not getting out of the Nations League group they are expected to win comfortably.
It was a lacklustre performance by an England side against their opponents, who are now top of the group with a maximum nine points.
Despite superstar names like Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and man of the moment Cole Palmer all starting.
Where did it all go wrong? It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing, and talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham gives his marks out of ten for the far from roaring Three Lions.
‘A problem for England’
Rico Lewis received a 3/10 rating from Durham, not a bad score considering three of his teammates got 1/10.
However, his struggles underlined a gaping weakness in the England line-up that was an issue in during Euro 2024: left-back.
On Manchester City starlet Lewis’ performance, Durham said: “Not sure left back is his future, it’s a problem for England.”
Lewis got 3/10, which was not too bad a rating compared with the rest of the teamGetty
Newcastle star Anthony Gordon was one of the three England players to get 1/10Getty
‘Just no’
Newly crowned England Player of the Year Palmer was handed his first senior start for the Three Lions on Thursday night, but he failed to justify why he received the award. couldn’t replicate his blistering early season for for club Chelsea.
He came close with an early free-kick brushing the top of the net but a shanked effort over the crossbar summed up Palmer and England’s night.
Palmer couldn’t replicate his blistering early season for for club Chelsea and was given 3/10 by Durham, although the talkSPORT host suggested his role prevented him from showcasing his talents.
Durham said: “He missed a sitter, deeper than a submarine, just no, faded badly.”
For the first time this season it just didn’t click for PalmerGetty
‘Forgot he was playing’
Palmer had his openings but his former teammate at Manchester City cut an anonymous figure at Wembley.
Foden was substituted on 72 minutes and Durham’s comment on him is no doubt how many England fans would have reacted when seeing him making his way off the pitch.
Durham, who gave Foden a 1/10, said: “I forgot he was even playing.”
Foden made his 42nd and probably least memorable England capGetty
‘Failed to pick a proper team’
A number of England players were off the boil on Thursday night, and when the team isn’t firing the buck stops with the manager.
The honeymoon is very much over for Carsley following his comfortable wins over Finland and the Republic of Ireland during the last international break.
After giving Carsley a 1/10, Durham said: “He failed to pick a proper team.”
Has this result cost Carsley the job?Getty
England player ratings vs Greece
Jordan Pickford – 1
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4
John Stones – 3
Levi Colwill – 6
Rico Lewis – 3
Declan Rice – 4
Cole Palmer – 3
Phil Foden – 1
Jude Bellingham – 2
Anthony Gordon – 1
SUB: Noni Madueke – 5
SUB: Ollie Watkins – 5
SUB: Dominic Solanke – N/A