England will be out for revenge when they renew hostilities with Greece in the Nations League this week, live on talkSPORT.
The Three Lions were stunned 2-1 by the Euro 2004 winners at Wembley last month to end interim boss Lee Carsley‘s perfect start.
A last-gasp winner from Vangelis Pavlidis ensured England lost their first competitive home game since 2020 following a horror showing.
Carsley was branded naive and his tactics were slammed after his experimental no-striker team were downed by the Greeks.
The result sparked a debate that his hopes of becoming Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor had all-but ended.
It later emerged that Thomas Tuchel had already been secretly appointed as the new England manager two days before the defeat.
Carsley now has two final games to end his senior spell on a high by getting England promoted to the Nations League Group A.
However, Greece are three points ahead of the Three Lions at the top and another defeat will guarantee they can’t be overhauled.
Greece vs England: Hey Jude!
Jude Bellingham may be struggling in front of goal for Real Madrid this season – but he’s continued to be a shining light for England.
The 21-year-old, who finally opened his account for Los Blancos in his 13th appearance of the campaign last Saturday, was also on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture against Greece.
That Wembley strike was his sixth international goal, and fifth since joining Champions League winners Real from Borussia Dortmund.
Should Bellingham find the net again this week, he will join David Beckham and Michael Owen in sharing the joint record for most England goals while playing for Madrid with six each.
- Greece went winless across their first nine meetings with England in all competitions (D2 L7) before winning 2-1 at Wembley last month. The only teams to beat the Three Lions twice in the same calendar year are Wales in 1936, Italy in 1973, Belgium in 2018 and Hungary in 2022.
- England have won on all four of their previous trips to face Greece by an aggregate score of 9-1, only holding a better 100% win-rate away from home against Luxembourg (5/5).
- Greece are on the longest active winning run of any European nation in all competitions (5 games) and could win six consecutive matches for the first time November 2013.
Greece vs England: Team news and predicted line-up
Carsley attempted to shoehorn all his No.10s on the field at once during the reverse fixture at Wembley, with Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham all named in his starting XI.
The latter was deployed as a false nine, despite having Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke available.
The failed experiment saw Carsley revert to the system that brought him initial success as interim manager for the 3-1 win over Finland last time out.
And the 50-year-old is likely to deploy a more recognisable system again in Greece, but injuries have hampered his selection choices.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be available to play for England due to the hamstring injury suffered in Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa.
The Reds vice-captain has started all four matches of the Carsley era, winning the Player of the Match award in three of those games.
However, Kyle Walker will be needed at right-back in his absence, with Rico Lewis hoping to get the nod over Lewis Hall on the left.
John Stones was left out of the England squad with a foot issue, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are both major fitness concerns.
The Arsenal pair both asked to be substituted during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea and won’t be risked even if they remain in camp.
Rice’s exclusion may finally open the door for Curtis Jones, a favourite of Carsley’s, to make his senior England debut.
The Liverpool star was named England U21s player of the tournament under Carsley last year but missed the chance to make his senior bow last month after his partner welcomed their first child on the eve of the Finland match.
Jones’ recent form for his club, which has relegated £60million signing Dominik Szoboszlai to the bench, has continued in recent weeks and he’s set to be rewarded by partnering Bellingham in the middle.
Cole Palmer would be the obvious choice to deputise for Saka on the right, but the Chelsea talisman has been nursing injury problems of his own.
That could open the door for Noni Madueke to start instead, with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on the left due to doubts over Jack Grealish‘s health.
Finally, Reigning PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden will bid to ignite his stuttering start to the season in the central No.10 role.
England captain Harry Kane will be tasked with leading the line.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers
- Dean Henderson
- Jordan Pickford
- Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders
- Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Levi Colwill
- Marc Guehi
- Lewis Hall
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis
- Ezri Konsa
- Rico Lewis
- Kyle Walker
Midfielders
- Jude Bellingham
- Phil Foden
- Conor Gallagher
- Morgan Gibbs-White
- Angel Gomes
- Curtis Jones
- Cole Palmer
- Declan Rice
Forwards
- Anthony Gordon
- Jack Grealish
- Harry Kane
- Noni Madueke
- Bukayo Saka
- Dominic Solanke
- Ollie Watkins
- England are unbeaten in their last seven away games (W5 D2), their longest such run on the road since 12 games in a row between March 2013 and October 2015 under Roy Hodgson.
- Greece have gone 286 minutes without conceding at home since Youssouf Fofana netted for France in November last year, their longest run on home turf without their opponents netting since going 617 minutes between February 2012 and October 2013.
- This will be England’s 16th game of 2024, only ever playing more games in 1966 (17), 2018 (17) and 2021 (19) – the Three Lions have lost four times this calendar year however, only losing more times in 1981 (5).
Greece vs England: What has been said?
England interim boss Carsley said Jones is a player he ‘highly rates’ ahead of what is expected to be the latter’s senior debut.
“Curtis is an all-round player, plays in various positions and is a player that I highly rate,” Carsley said after making his announcement.
“He will be one of the best players I have worked with in terms of his ability. I think he has shown a really consistent level of playing every week now, most weeks especially, at a high level.
“He has shown he can score goals and assist, a player that I’ve had a lot of success with working in the past and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
However, Carsley came under fire for another of his choices after being accused of giving ‘his mate’ – Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis – a surprise spot in the squad.
Greece vs England: talkSPORT coverage
This Nations League clash will take place on Thursday, November 14.
Kick-off at Athens Olympic Stadium is scheduled for 7:45pm.
talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game presented by Adrian Durham.
Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
talkSPORT.com will have you covered on our dedicated live blog.
Meanwhile, you can watch the action for free on ITV 1 or ITV X.
