England’s tactical gamble fails as Greece secure first-ever victory against Three Lions

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

In a shocking UEFA Nations League match, England suffered a 2-1 defeat to Greece on home soil. This loss not only surprised fans but also left pundits questioning interim coach Lee Carsley’s tactical decisions.

Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis scored either side of Jude Bellingham’s powerful strike to hand Greece all maximum points at Wembley.

Three Lions opted for an unconventional approach by not including a traditional striker. Instead, Carsley fielded a dynamic attacking lineup featuring Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon.

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The absence of Harry Kane due to injury raised eyebrows, especially with Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins on the bench, with critics suggesting Carsley missed an opportunity to capitalise on England’s striking depth.

Greece, ranked 48th in the world, exposed vulnerabilities in England’s defense, scoring five times, though three goals were disallowed. Also during the match, a critical mistake from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford led to a near disaster, saved only by a goal-line clearance from Levi Colwill.

Each time Greece broke through England’s press, they posed a significant threat. The visitors seemed likely to find the net with every attack of the ball.

England’s tactical missteps

Carsley’s squad selection sparked debate, particularly regarding how to fit Bellingham, Palmer, and Foden into the same formation. Many have criticised former coach Gareth Southgate for not fully utilizing England’s attacking talent, a challenge Carsley has embraced.

He deployed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rico Lewis as full-backs, pushing them into midfield when in possession. This innovative strategy aimed to maximize space for creative players like Foden and Palmer, while Bellingham operated as a forward central figure.

Meanwhile, Saka and Gordon provided width on the flanks, with Carsley intending to stretch Greece’s defense. Carsley hinted that this setup would create more opportunities for the central attacking talents.

Judging by the overall play and outcome, Carsley and England’s intention did not come out fruitful. In truth, the 1966 World Cup winners had different opportunities to score especially before their late equaliser, but were simply profligate.

The stats

Remarkably, this marked Greece’s first-ever victory against England in a competitive match. Additionally, they became the lowest-ranked team to defeat England at home.

The game statistics were not in England’s favour, with only two shots on target. Both attempts came from Bellingham. This clearly underscored the lack of offensive presence in the opposition’s penalty area.

Also, no England player recorded more than five touches within Greece’s penalty box. In contrast, Carsley’s previous matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland saw more players engaged offensively.

Pavlidis emerged as Greece’s two-goal hero, ending a 14-match scoreless drought for his country. This victory will undoubtedly add pressure on Carsley and spark discussions about England’s future direction.

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