England disappointed its fans with a completely negative performance against Greece. The 2-1 defeat did not reflect what the match really was: a terrible performance, no defensive tactical organization and a considerable waste of talent.
Without Harry Kane, manager Carsley took the opportunity to test Bellingham as an attacking reference in the center forward position. Even so, the Greek team took advantage of the scenario of greater offensive occupation of the midfield to explore several counterattacks. Considering this negative score, we have separated the main key points to take away from this tragic match.
1. The starting lineup definitely did not work
The changes made by Carsley in his third match aimed to please the English fans, who were calling for greater attacking play from the team. However, Saka and Foden were rarely involved during the 90 minutes, while the lack of balance between attack and defence allowed various chances for the Greek team during their offensive transitions.
What really worked in the first half was the performance of Alexander-Arnold and Rico Lewis, as Greece left space in midfield for the players at the back to have greater opportunities for build-up compared to the attacking players.
2. The concern over Bukayo Saka's potential injury
In addition to the irritation of all the supporters who witnessed yet another lamentable performance from the English Team, the defeat to Greece has left Arsenal fans extremely concerned due to the possible tendon injury of Bukayo Saka. One of the key figures in the Gunners' squad left the pitch in pain and will likely be the latest absentee from Mikel Arteta's lineup upon the return to the Premier League.
It is worth noting that Martin Odegaard sustained an injury while playing for the Norwegian national team in September, weakening Arsenal's quality in the title race against Liverpool and Manchester City. As a result, there is a great deal of hope from both the FA and the Gunners that Bukayo Saka's injury is not severe, especially considering that the end of October holds a crucial clash for the top spot against Liverpool.
3. The despair of Lee Carsley with the English Team
“I was quite surprised after the last camp, in terms of ‘the job’s mine’ and ‘it’s mine to lose’ and all the rest of it. My remit has been clear. I’m doing three camps, there’s three games left and then hopefully I’ll be going back to the under-21s.”
The words from Lee Carsley after England's defeat to Greece suggest that his current role with the senior team may not be long-lasting. Carsley's despondency, both on and off the pitch, clearly indicates that we are not experiencing the beginning of a “new era” following Gareth Southgate's tenure, which ended after the Euro 2024 final. Therefore, during this transitional period, it is important for Carsley to at least outline a line of thinking for his successor.