Carsley admits England were ‘second best’ but refuses to rule out using false nine again

Lee Carsley has not ruled out using a false nine again despite admitting it didn’t work tonight as England were “second best” against Greece at Wembley.

Without the injured Harry Kane, Carsley opted against a like-for-like replacement in the form of Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke and instead utilised Jude Bellingham as a makeshift forward ahead of attacking midfielders Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon.

It resulted in a disjointed performance that saw England create little as an attacking force – they had just two shots on target, including Bellingham’s late goal that looked to have given them a point – while they also looked undermanned defensively with Rico Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s willingness to push into midfield repeatedly seeing John Stones and Levi Colwill exposed.

Vangelis Pavlidis scored both goals for Greece, including the winner deep into stoppage time, as the visitors honoured the memory of George Baldock, who died yesterday after drowning in a swimming pool in Athens, with a stirring performance and a well-deserved win.

🗣️ “We tried to overload the midfield… It was something that we tried for 20 minutes yesterday, it’s something we experimented with.”

Lee Carsley on England’s new system#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/7C39UZ3dWc

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 10, 2024

Carsley told ITV: “We were second best for a lot of tonight, it is disappointing. You are going to get setbacks and it’s important we respond.

“We tried something different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and disappointed it didn’t come off. It’s unrealistic to expect too much and we will have to try again. All the goals were from mistakes, which is disappointing.

“It is definitely an option going forward. When you have someone of Kane’s quality though it rules it out when he is available. But in the future you have to have the courage and ability to try things.

“We tried something different. It doesn’t change anything. My remit is to do the three camps.”

Stones – the onus was on us to deliver

Stones wore the captain’s armband for the first time but was partially to blame for both Greece goals with some lightweight defending.

The Manchester City defender said: “On a personal note, absolutely gutted. To have a result like that with the armband for the first time.

“We prepared like we normally do and it didn’t come off. From the start they put us right under pressure. They were very compact.

“We know the system as players and when we are out there as players we have to deliver. The onus is on us to deliver – and we didn’t.

“A difficult night, a lot was riding on it for me personally and we saw it as a great opportunity to top the group. We have to move forward.”

🗣️ “It was a special game for us because of George and we gave everything for him and his family.” ❤️

Well said, Vangelis Pavlidis 👏#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/CFSczZGb7m

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 10, 2024

Pavlidis – that win was for ‘special guy’ George

Former Sheffield United full-back Baldock won 12 caps for Greece after making his debut two years ago. The Greece players held up a shirt with his name on the back after each goal and again after the final whistle.

Pavlidis said: “It was a really special day for us because of George. We are people and it’s a special night because of him.

“[We have thought about him] a lot since we heard it yesterday. A difficult moment for us because George was part of the team. Special guy. We have to play for him and it doesn’t matter the score today. We gave everything for him.”