In the Nations League B Group 2, England is set to take on Greece at Wembley Stadium this Thursday at 7.45pm. The event will be broadcast live on Virgin Media 3 and UTV. Notably, England’s playing style under Interim Manager Lee Carsley is seen by player John Stones as gradually mirroring that of his club manager, Pep Guardiola.
Carsley, who is brainstorming on efficiently incorporating Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer into England’s starting team, has shown boldness in altering the strategy and line-up since replacing Gareth Southgate. With England maintaining the offensive in their previous victories against Finland and the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League, Stones has noticed an enhanced focus on ball possession, flexibility, and initiating play from the backline.
Stones, a Manchester City defender and well-acquainted with Guardiola’s style, expressed optimism about drawing parallels between Carsley and his club’s manager. According to him, every manager holds a unique style, but there are significant resemblances in the playing vision of both Lee and Pep, which was apparent in their previous two matches.
Finnish attention, meanwhile, is divided between the football match and an ice hockey game. Carsley’s chances of becoming the permanent manager are likely to increase if England manages to dominate in the Nations League Group B2 by triumphing over Greece at Wembley. However, the strategy around utilising Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer in central positions without disrupting the team’s balance will be closely watched.
“He assured, “I certainly have a strategy ready. The advantage of this role is the ample thinking time it provides. While travelling from one match to another, there’s always room for contemplation about team dynamics and interpersonal relationships amongst players. Sure, we have three exceptional players, however, we’re also blessed with a team of truly fascinating and talented individuals. It’s crucial to earn your spot on the team instead of forcing a fit into positions.”
Earlier this week, Palmer was crowned England’s player of the year, despite only starting in two of his nine international level matches. Nonetheless, Carsley aims to safeguard the Chelsea striker from unrealistically high expectations. He confirmed, “Cole manages whatever pressure is put on him. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean we have the right to continually stress him out or hype him up.
“Fundamentally, he remains a young player and still has a lot to learn. While he’s performing remarkably well currently, I believe he has the potential to progress further. It is crucial to care for all young players in our team. Providing them with support is of utmost importance. Yet, I’m not at all concerned about Cole.”
Carsley hinted at the possibility of playing Foden, who has had difficulty replicating his City form for the national team, in the central position. “Phil is an extraordinary player,” he stated. “We need to ascertain that he’s positioned to disrupt the opponents effectively. That’s where I envision him – anywhere he can pose a threat to the opposition. Placing him in broader positions could work, but we would need to modify our tactical approach to maximise his performance. In my opinion, Phil is most effective when operating centrally.”
Jack Grealish and Harry Kane might be unavailable for the match against Greece. Ollie Watkins is expected to step in for Kane, who is grappling with a groin injury, while Stones might take the role of team captain. – Guardian”