England travel to Greece for a must-win clash in the Nations League tonight. Following a defeat at Wembley to the same opponents the Three Lions must triumph in Athens if they hope to automatically qualify for promotion.
Interim boss Lee Carsley takes charge of the national side for his final camp and will be hoping for a positive end to his time in charge of the senior side.
Carsley has already handed out a number of debuts during his time in charge and could yet give an opportunity to six uncapped members of the squad including Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
With quite a few players including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka pulling out due to injury expect a somewhat unfamiliar looking line-up for tonight’s game with the defence and midfield in particular getting a shake up.
Follow all the action from the Nations League with our live blog below as England take on Greece:
Greece vs England LIVE
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Greece host England in a must win encounter in Athens with kick off at 7.45pm, live on ITV
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Lee Carsley takes charge of final camp before Thomas Tuchel becomes permanent boss
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Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and more withdraw from squad
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Greece XI: Vlachodimos:Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Siopis, Zafeiris; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis
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England XI: Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins
Carsley benches Kane again
18:53 , Richard Jolly
“For the second time, Lee Carsley has fielded a team without Harry Kane against Greece.
“This time by choice, however: while Kane criticised the players who stayed away, he has turned up and been rewarded with a place on the bench.
“A penny for his thoughts right now.”
Anthony Gordon reveals all on failed Chelsea move: ‘It was quite close, to be honest’
18:50 , Mike Jones
Anthony Gordon has revealed he was “desperate” to play for Thomas Tuchel when the next England manager tried to sign him in 2022 and can’t wait to link up with him on international duty.
Tuchel’s Chelsea made a £40m bid for Gordon in the summer of 2022 but the Merseyside club refused to sell, with former manager Frank Lampard determined to keep the winger.
Gordon eventually joined Newcastle instead in January 2023, four months after Chelsea had sacked Tuchel, and the 23-year-old has gone on to earn 10 England caps under Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley.
Anthony Gordon reveals all on failed Chelsea move: ‘It was quite close’
England ready for Greece
18:45 , Mike Jones
England team changes
18:40 , Mike Jones
Lee Carsley makes eight changes to the team that started against Finland in England last outing.
The players that remain are Kyle Walker, March Guehi and Jude Bellingham.
Jordan Pickford returns in goal while Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis fill out the rest of the defence. In midfield Curtis Jones starts alongside Conor Gallagher in the holding roles with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke on the wings.
Ollie Watkins starts up front in what is easily the biggest talking point as Harry Kane begins the match on the bench.
Greece vs England line-ups
18:35 , Mike Jones
Greece XI: Vlachodimos:Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Siopis, Zafeiris; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins
Gordon on almost moving to Chelsea
18:35 , Mike Jones
“It was quite close, to be honest,” Gordon said abotu his possible move to Chelsea from Everton. “I was desperate to go at the time and work with him [Thomas Tuchel] especially. I felt like my style would suit his style of play, the way he was playing at Chelsea which was very exciting for me.
“It didn’t end up happening. It was a big opportunity for me that didn’t end up happening and I’m looking forward to getting to work with him a couple of years later.”
Gordon on Greece defeat
18:30 , Mike Jones
Anthony Gordon says England want revenge on Greece after their defeat at Wembley.
Speaking ahead of the game he said: “I think with the England national team, we don’t feel like we should lose any game so losing a game like that, we do want a bit of revenge and to prove we can beat them.
“With the players we’ve got, we felt like we should have won at Wembley but we underperformed and didn’t take our chances and now we have another opportunity to do that.”
Anthony Gordon on playing for club and country
18:25 , Mike Jones
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was an injury doubt ahead of the England squad getting together but he has been passed fit and wants to play in these two internationals.
He spoke about what it is like to play for his club and his country saying: “It’s a good question! I’d say whatever is my current team is that I’m playing for, is most important. That’s what’s in front of me and that’s the challenge ahead, so it’s hard to say one.
“I think with England it’s a different feeling because you’re selected to be in a group where it’s the best from every team, which is a good feeling but I’d say what’s right ahead of me.”
Why Lewis Hall can see stars aligning for him to meet England’s biggest need
18:20 , Mike Jones
In their last 13 matches, England have only once started with a specialist left-back. Now a specialist left-back has emerged who debuted under Thomas Tuchel and who, even before the German takes charge, can benefit from the coaching of England’s most-capped full-back. If the autumn of 2023 was decidedly difficult for Lewis Hall, a year on, the stars could seem to be aligning for him.
Of the six uncapped players in Lee Carsley’s squad this month, Hall has the clearest path to a place in the team. Luke Shaw began the Euro 2024 final, but his outings have become rarities amid his injury problems. Kieran Trippier was the right-back pressed into service on the opposite flank in Germany but he has opted for international retirement.
Stars aligning for Lewis Hall to meet England’s biggest need
Hall on playing in ‘big games’
18:15 , Mike Jones
Lewis Hall is likely to start for England at left-back tonight and should he do well he may just nail down that position as his own.
He spoke about playing in big games and coming up against top players in the hopes of cementing a place in the national team.
“I have played in some big games this year and faced some tricky opponents, Saka being the main one,” Hall said. “He is a very, very good player. Noni [Madueke] as well – he is really quick, strong, powerful.
“Those two are difficult opponents, Bernardo Silva as well. He is different to them; a bit more technical, close control with the ball, finds himself in good positions which make him difficult to mark.”
Greece vs England
18:10 , Mike Jones
The Three Lions have played Greece at men’s senior level on ten occasions, registering seven wins, drawing twice and losing once, at Wembley last month.
Carsley yet to speak to Tuchel
18:05 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel will be taking up his role as England manager in January but decided not to speak with Lee Carsley ahead of this international break.
The reasons why are unknown but the incoming boss may not want to interfere with Carsley’s last two games in charge.
Amid mass withdrawals and a must-win game, Carsley’s kids will determine his England legacy
18:00 , Mike Jones
It is an England football team, if not the England team that will take the field in Athens on Thursday night. Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish is a line-up that would require a false nine. There may be an irony there, given that Lee Carsley’s striker-less formation was a major factor in defeat to Greece last month.
But instead of each playing, they are all absent, either injured or recuperating. Six of them started the Euro 2024 final and a seventh, Palmer, scored in it, so it seems no exaggeration to call it a stronger side than the team Carsley will actually pick.
Amid mass withdrawals, Carsley’s kids will determine his England legacy
Previous meetings this century
17:55 , Mike Jones
England 4-0 Greece, August 2006
A meeting at Old Trafford against Otto Rehhagel’s reigning European Champions ended in a convincing win for new boss Steve McClaren in his first game in charge. Goals from John Terry, Frank Lampard and a brace from Peter Crouch proved the difference on the day.
England 2-2 Greece, 6 October 2001
Who could forget David Beckham’s unstoppable free-kick in the last minute to seal the result and England’s place in the 2002 World Cup? Greece had taken the lead twice at Old Trafford, either side of Teddy Sheringham’s goal, but it was captain Beckham who took the plaudits after an all-action display to help pull England over the line.
The last meeting
17:50 , Mike Jones
England 1-2 Greece
The visitors scored in added time to win all three points at Wembley in the first 2024-25 Nations league fixture between these sides.
Jude Bellingham thought he’d earned the Three Lions a point with an 87th-minute strike but Vangelis Pavlidis – who had earlier broken the deadlock – scored his second goal of the evening to seal the win.
What did Carsley learn from Wembley defeat?
17:45 , Mike Jones
England were beaten by Greece at Wembley during the last international window and must now triumph away from home to have a chance at winning automatic promotion.
Lee Carsley says the squad learned a lot from that defeat and will try to improve tonight.
The interim boss said: “First and foremost, the tempo we have to play at and the chances we create we have to take. Real basics, but a good reminder.
“We tried something different that night so you’ll probably see something more conventional in terms of the way we play, but I expect us to play a good, attacking style and hopefully we can get a good result.
“We’ve definitely prepared well for the game, they’re very well organised and a strong team with a great history. We definitely didn’t underestimate them [in October] and we expect a tough game.
“We found they were very good on the counter attack especially so it’s going to be a difficult game.”
‘Southgate brought back joy’
17:40 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane says that Gareth Southgate brought back the joy in playing for England and hopes that the former manager’s exit doesn’t result in that feeling being lost.
Kane said: “I think the joy to play for England. I think he brought that back. I think every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club. England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”
Kane on squad members dropping out
17:35 , Mike Jones
England captain Harry Kane isn’t best pleased that so many senior players have dropped out of the squad for these two international fixtures.
Speaking to ITV he said: “It’s a shame this week, obviously. I think it’s a tough period of the season and, yeah, maybe that’s been taken advantage of that a little bit.
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think, like I just said there, England comes before anything, any club situation.”
Harry Kane hits out at England teammates over withdrawals from squad: ‘I don’t really like it’
17:30 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane has accused his England teammates of taking advantage of the lack of a long-term manager by pulling out of the squad for this week’s must-win game against Greece.
The England captain launched an attack on his fellow players after eight withdrew on Monday from interim manager Lee Carsley’s group.
Thomas Tuchel does not start as Gareth Southgate’s successor until January and Kane implied players would not have sat out the double header against Greece and Republic of Ireland if the German was in charge.
Harry Kane hits out at England teammates over withdrawals from squad
Greece vs England prediction
17:25 , Mike Jones
England to bounce back from disappointment last time out and record victory in more pragmatic fashion than they tried last time the sides met.
Greece 1-2 England.
Carsley expects ‘tough game’ against Greece
17:20 , Mike Jones
Lee Carsley says he is expecting the Three Lions to come up against a touch side in Greece when they clash in a crucial Nations League match tonight.
The interim boss said: “We’re expecting a tough game and it’s one we have to win.“But we’re really looking forward to it, we’ve had a good week’s training, the players are in good spirits and it’s going to be a sell out with a great atmosphere.“We’ve had to wait four or five weeks for this, but this next window is so important to us, not just tomorrow but Republic of Ireland as well, so it’s a great challenge for us.”
England have nine players drop out
17:15 , Mike Jones
England have had nine players drop out of the squad due to injury or recuperation leaving Lee Carsley with a difficult job against Greece.
The interim boss was adamant that the players who remain can get a win and that his focus has been on preparing for the game not managing those that dropped out.
Carsley said: “The focus all camp has been on the players that are here and it’s important that we make the most of this situation.
“With the amount of players that have pulled out, it gives other players an opportunity to be here. We’re really looking forward to the game and it’s going to be a tough test for us and the focus has been purely on the players that are here.
“With the amount of pull-outs we’ve had in the window, historically it’s been like that in the past – November has always been a challenging window – but the culture that Gareth, Steve and the rest of the lads created has made it a really positive environment and the players that are here thoroughly deserve to be here and they’re ready for the game.”
Carsley on Branthwaite’s fitness
17:10 , Mike Jones
With so many England players missing during this camp there is an opportunity for some of the younger members of the squad to make their mark.
One such player was Everton’s Jarrod Branthwaite though an injury means he misses out against Greece and has returned to Everton for his recovery.
Lee Carsley said: “We have tried to give Jarrad as long we can but he is probably going to miss out so Jarell [Quansah] will join the travelling party and take part in the rest of the camp.
“I think it’s really important that Jarrad hasn’t trained. He’s been treated for the last two or three days and it’s an issue that Everton will now take over when he goes back.”
Lee Carsley disputes Pep Guardiola claim over Jack Grealish’s fitness
17:05 , Mike Jones
Lee Carsley has disputed Pep Guardiola’s assertion that Jack Grealish was not fit for an international call-up by saying there was regular communication between Manchester City and England before the midfielder was selected last week.
Grealish, who has missed City’s last six matches, was included in the 26-man party Carsley named on Thursday, but was one of eight withdrawals from the squad on Monday.
The £100m signing has scored twice in Carsley’s brief reign and the interim manager admitted it was a risk to pick Grealish, but said it was based on medical advice.
Lee Carsley disputes Pep Guardiola claim over Jack Grealish’s fitness
What is the latest England team news?
17:00 , Mike Jones
Lee Carsley has already seen several injuries mount up, with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, centre midfielder Declan Rice and winger Bukayo Saka being the most notable ones from the usual first-choice line-up.
Phil Foden, Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish and backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale are also all out, meaning Jarrod Bowen and Jarrad Branthwaite were called up as cover along with the uncapped Morgan Rogers and Tino Livramento.
The latter pair join James Trafford, Lewis Hall, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Curtis Jones in hoping to earn a first cap.
Branthwaite missed training on Tuesday and has since returned to Everton with Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah providing cover.
Where can I watch the match?
16:55 , Mike Jones
Greece vs England will be screened live on ITV1 and STV. It can be streamed via ITVX on compatible devices, as well as the STV Player.
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When is Greece vs England?
16:50 , Mike Jones
The clash takes place on Thursday 14 November with kick-off set for 7:45pm GMT.
Greece vs England
16:45 , Mike Jones
England head to Greece for an away clash in the Nations League on Thursday evening, with Lee Carsley hoping for a positive result after suffering a Wembley defeat to the same opponent last month.
There could well be new players handed a senior bow for the Three Lions this time out, with a total of six now in the squad who are so far uncapped, following a spate of injury withdrawals.
Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were the trio originally included this time around without a cap to their name, but at the other end of the scale the likes of Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker and Harry Kane remain involved – all three with over 70 caps now and the captain past the century mark.
Even so it’ll be an unfamiliar lineup one way or another, with a further nine players in this squad having so far played between once and eight times for England at this level.
Good evening!
14:50 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Nations League action as England take on Greece in a match which will have consequences on Thomas Tuchel’s upcoming reign.
Interim boss Lee Carsley is in charge for two more matches and is tasked with securing promotion to the top tier of the Nations League. That means the Three Lions must defeat Greece tonight to have any hopes of winning their group.
We’ll bring you all the team news, line-ups and latest updates throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.45pm.
