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ATHENS, Greece — This time, Lee Carsley’s decision proved successful. In an unexpected turn of events, the interim coach of England made the bold choice to bench captain Harry Kane during the Nations League match against Greece on Thursday, leading to a comfortable 3-0 victory in Athens.
This outcome starkly contrasted the previous encounter just a month prior, where Carsley had similarly taken risks by selecting a squad devoid of recognized strikers, as Kane was sidelined due to injury. That match ended in disappointment for England, who suffered a 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley Stadium.
Carsley’s stint as caretaker coach of England, following the departure of Gareth Southgate, has faced scrutiny, especially after the national team’s initial historical defeat to Greece. However, by the end of the year, he will pass the coaching duties to Thomas Tuchel with his reputation somewhat revitalized, and with prospects looking more promising for the team.
In fact, Carsley’s choice to select Ollie Watkins over Kane for this match was rooted in the desire to build a strong future for the squad. “This team needs to try and create leaders, and one way to do that is to give them opportunities,” he explained, referencing his decision to include Watkins along with Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, who made his debut.
Watkins played a crucial role in England’s offensive approach, scoring a goal just seven minutes into the match by tapping in a cross from 22-year-old winger Noni Madueke, who was also a surprising starter.
In the 78th minute, Jude Bellingham contributed to the second goal with a shot that ricocheted off the post and ultimately deflected off Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos into the net. Jones sealed the scoring with a flick-in for the final goal five minutes later.
“There were a lot of positives,” Carsley remarked after the game. “I see the quality these players possess, and you’re now witnessing their capabilities. When you view the team, some might perceive it as a gamble, but I have substantial confidence in these players.”
Kane made an appearance in the 66th minute, replacing Watkins, and Carsley indicated that he anticipates Kane starting in the upcoming match against Ireland on Sunday. England aims to secure a victory that would allow them to finish at the top of their group and gain promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.
“He was completely fine,” Carsley noted regarding Kane’s condition. “It’s fair to say he desires to play every game, just as all top players do. However, he understands the significance of allowing other players to gain experiences like the one we had tonight. He serves as a fantastic example for the rest.”
“It was excellent for Ollie to score,” Carsley continued. “For us to position these players to potentially win the World Cup, they must accumulate as much experience as possible. There’s no disregard intended towards Harry.”
The Greek team struggled to find the net despite having some promising moments in their attack. Coach Ivan Jovanovic acknowledged that England had returned to form, breaking a streak of four consecutive victories for his team. “England is unquestionably a superior team with higher quality, but the outcome could have differed,” Jovanovic reflected. “I have no complaints regarding the effort of my players; they made their runs and took on challenges. Nonetheless, we fell short of our potential. England played exceptionally well, while we didn’t perform at the level we’re capable of.”
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