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Barely had Lee Carsley left the rain-soaked Wembley pitch on Tuesday night, after embracing his players and acknowledging the fans, when his thoughts shifted to October.
The past ten days have been a whirlwind for Carsley, marking his first international camp while serving as interim manager of the England senior men’s team after stepping up from his role with the under-21s following Gareth Southgate’s exit post-European Championship. Two matches, two solid victories, and two clean sheets. Three players made their debuts for England, Harry Kane achieved his milestone of 100 caps, and Carsley successfully navigated one media frenzy regarding his patriotism.
However, in three weeks, Carsley will announce his next squad as they prepare to face Greece at Wembley on October 10, before traveling to Helsinki for a match against Finland two days later. This upcoming England squad will differ significantly from the current one.
Even before addressing the press last night, Carsley was contemplating those October fixtures, pondering the newly available players, the necessity to refresh the group, and which selected players would need to sit out. The integration of expected returns from Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer will be one of the major talking points for next month.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: England 2 Finland 0 – Kane marks 100th cap with two goals as Alexander-Arnold shines again
Carsley is presently balancing various objectives. His primary goal is to advance from the second tier of the Nations League, which entails winning this group that includes the Republic of Ireland. With two victories from their initial two group games, it has been an ideal start. Next month, England will need to replicate this performance.
He recognizes that the more significant goal is the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which will commence either in March or June, contingent on any participation in the Nations League playoffs during the first of those windows. “It’s crucial that we’re in a robust position,” he stated on Tuesday night.
As Carsley expressed his thoughts on these matters, it became evident that he exudes the demeanor of an England manager already. Over the past week, he has been cautious not to appear presumptuous about the possibility of securing the permanent role. He acknowledges the privilege of being in this position, discussing the substantial “responsibility” and “pressure” he feels to maximize the potential of these players, facilitating their ability to“`html
Lee Carsley has been hands-on with his England players (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
The victory at home was significantly less eventful than England’s recent match in Dublin over the weekend. That particular game, encompassing the entire trip, highlighted the unique trials of what many once referred to as ‘The Impossible Job.’ In addition to facing a challenging away crowd, there were numerous intricate non-football-related issues to navigate, such as the dual nationality situation of the English-born former Republic of Ireland international and whether he would sing the national anthem before the match. Nevertheless, Carsley managed to maintain his dignity and even enhance his reputation.
International management involves navigating politics, scrutiny, and tough questions. However, it also requires strategizing a team to compete against compact, low-block opponents on a calm, rainy evening at Wembley.
International football presents an equal number of matches like this as it does high-energy games akin to Saturday’s encounter at the Aviva Stadium, where the supporters create an intense atmosphere and players find their motivation naturally. This is the reality of participating in the Nations League B section: following a match against Greece in October, England will host Ireland in November. Many of their World Cup qualifying games are likely to resemble last night’s encounter.
It was expected to be a challenge that tested England’s intellect and patience, and they rose to meet it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, now the first-choice right-back for England for the first time in his career, was outstanding, delivering several exquisite passes throughout the match. He contributed to both goals, and England’s performance clearly improved with his presence in the lineup. Angel Gomes exhibited bravery and intelligence with the ball, validating Carsley’s faith in him, and showcased the style of football Carsley aims for this team to adopt. Noni Madueke, another of Carsley’s selections who he is familiar with from the under-21 squad, proved to be a threat against exhausted defenders as a substitute and played a pivotal role in securing the second goal.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was imperious against Finland (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
