England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, made a bold yet costly decision in his team selection against Greece at Wembley, leaving fans questioning both his tactics and his chances of permanently succeeding Gareth Southgate. England’s 2-1 defeat, marked by tactical disarray, saw Carsley take full responsibility for what has been dubbed an unnecessary gamble.
Carsley entered the match with a strong chance to further establish his credentials for the permanent England job. His previous two wins in the UEFA Nations League were promising, and with Gareth Southgate set to step down, Carsley appeared to be on track to seamlessly transition into the senior role. However, against Greece, he took a significant risk, choosing a forward-heavy lineup that ultimately backfired.
With captain Harry Kane sidelined due to injury, Carsley could have opted for a more conservative approach by fielding a recognized striker such as Dominic Solanke or Ollie Watkins. Instead, he packed the team with midfield and attacking talents including Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka, opting for a fluid, high-pressing formation. While this might have looked exciting on paper, the reality was a different story. From the outset, England’s structure appeared disjointed, and they struggled to control the game.
Greece capitalized on the tactical chaos, managing to put the ball in England’s net five times throughout the match, though three were ruled offside. Vangelis Pavlidis scored two legitimate goals, his second coming deep into stoppage time, securing Greece’s first-ever victory at Wembley in 10 attempts. Pavlidis’ first goal was also historic, marking the first time Greece had scored at Wembley.
For England, the night was full of confusion. Despite boasting a star-studded attack, the team only managed two shots on target over the 90 minutes. Jude Bellingham’s equalizer in the 87th minute provided a brief moment of hope, but even that was short-lived. Just minutes later, Pavlidis capitalized on England’s defensive frailties to net the winner, leaving Carsley’s side unable to salvage even a single point.
England’s lack of cohesion was evident from the opening moments. Declan Rice, the anchor in midfield, was left isolated and outnumbered as Greece’s counter-attacks continually sliced through England’s midfield and flanks. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Bellingham were deployed in positions that left them with little room to maneuver, while Saka and Gordon were largely ineffective on the wings. Without a focal point up front, England’s attacks broke down time and again.
The disorganization at the back was even more glaring. Greece’s 12 shots, three on target, exposed England’s vulnerability to counter-attacks. Pavlidis was a constant threat, and Greece’s speed in transition proved too much for England’s backline to handle. The absence of a coherent defensive structure meant that England were often caught out of position, with Greece having ample opportunities to exploit the spaces left by Carsley’s attack-heavy setup.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Carsley acknowledged his tactical misstep, accepting full responsibility for the loss. His decision to field a team without a recognized striker was a gamble that failed to pay off, and he admitted that the experimental approach was entirely his idea. “It was something we thought about long and hard,” Carsley said. “We tried something different, and I’m happy to take the blame for that.”
What made matters worse was the confusion surrounding Carsley’s future as England manager. During his post-match press conference, he appeared to inadvertently cast doubt on his position, saying “hopefully” he would return to managing the under-21s. He later clarified that his current role had not changed and that he was not ruling himself in or out of the running for the permanent senior team position. However, the damage was done, and the ambiguity of his comments only added to the sense of disarray following England’s loss.
Greece’s victory was historic on several levels. Not only was it their first win at Wembley, but they also became the lowest-ranked team (48th) to defeat England in a competitive fixture since Northern Ireland (116th) pulled off a shock win in 2005. For England, the result was as much a reflection of Greece’s disciplined performance as it was of their own failure to execute a coherent game plan.
As fans at Wembley made their displeasure clear—thousands leaving early and boos echoing around the stadium—Carsley’s boldness quickly turned into a glaring miscalculation. The risk he took, while commendable in its intent, felt reckless in execution. “Release the handbrake” had been a popular cry throughout Gareth Southgate’s tenure, but on this occasion, the wheels came off entirely.
England’s next opportunity to set things right comes with a trip to Finland in their next UEFA Nations League fixture. However, following this disappointing result, Carsley will be under immense pressure to abandon risky experiments and return to more conventional tactics. With his future hanging in the balance, it’s unlikely that Carsley will roll the dice again anytime soon.
