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In this article, we have revealed our predicted England XI for interim manager Lee Carsley’s final games in charge of the Three Lions before Thomas Tuchel takes over.
In the upcoming international break, England will play both Greece and the Republic of Ireland away from home and at Wembley Stadium respectively in the final two group matches of their UEFA Nations League (UNL) campaign.
Carsley has already picked his final squad for the upcoming fixtures, with both Southampton central defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall earning their first call-ups to the senior team, while regulars like Manchester City centre-back John Stones and Manchester United central midfielder Kobbie Mainoo miss out from the previous squad picked through injury.
Our predicted England XI: Carsley starts three debutants
Barring any late withdrawals due to injury or other matters, Carsley should stick with the majority of his tried and trusted players from the start, as England really need to aim for maximum points in these two fixtures if they have the ambition to top their UNL group.
However, given that Carsley knows that they will be his final games in charge of the senior team before Tuchel takes over, he may opt to give some players their full Three Lions debuts as well.
Predicted England XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford (GK), Alexander-Arnold, Harwood-Bellis, Guehi, Hall, Rice, Jones, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon & Kane
Five ‘unusual’ picks
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
As mentioned previously, Harwood-Bellis has earned his first senior call-up to the national team. As the current captain of the U21 side, he is a player that Carsley knows very well and has worked with before at youth level.
It is anyone’s guess as to which players Tuchel will take a liking to when he picks his first squad, and so Harwood-Bellis may not be fancied by him and thus get a better chance to represent his country at senior level.
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
With Stones out of the squad due to injury, it will no doubt be interesting to see who the partnership will be in the centre of defence. Marc Guehi partnered him at the UEFA European Championships in Germany, and may get the nod from the start again by Carsley, despite Crystal Palace’s relatively poor 2024/25 campaign so far.
Lewis Hall (Newcastle)
Hall could also be given his full senior debut from the start, and is the only natural left-back in the squad. The Newcastle man would offer balance in the defence, which England have struggled with in recent times.
Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
Curtis Jones has never earned a senior England cap, and given his impressive performances in Liverpool’s great start to the season, it is about time that he does. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see who partners Arsenal’s Declan Rice in the middle of the park.
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Anthony Gordon deserves his place in the starting XI given his consistency for both club and country, but he would be keeping world-class stars like Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and City’s Phil Foden out.