England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, has confirmed that his team will maintain their attacking approach as they face Finland in their upcoming Nations League fixture on Tuesday. This follows Carsley’s successful debut as interim boss, which saw England secure a 2-0 victory over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Promoted to the senior squad temporarily after Gareth Southgate’s resignation following England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain in July, Carsley is set to manage his first match at Wembley Stadium. Previously the England Under-21 coach, Carsley is preparing for another test against Finland, the lowest-ranked team in Group B2.
In their win against Ireland, England’s goals came from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, capping off a performance that Carsley hopes to replicate against Finland. Speaking on Monday, he said: “I still want to see us playing with that control. I think it’s important that we’re exciting to watch.”
Carsley added that England fans expect an attacking style, especially when playing at home. “I think when fans come to watch England play at home, they expect attacking football, they expect chances to be created and to play with a tempo and us to be on the ball,” he said. “So, yeah, I wouldn’t see that being any different (on Tuesday).”
Carsley’s tactical approach has drawn comparisons with the more conservative style of his predecessor, Gareth Southgate. While Southgate led England to the Euro 2024 final, his cautious strategies often faced criticism. Carsley, however, has introduced a more dynamic style in his short tenure.
Carsley, a former midfielder who represented Ireland 40 times, made headlines with his decision not to sing the English national anthem, “God Save the King,” during the match in Dublin. While the decision has sparked some controversy, particularly among more patriotic England supporters, Carsley remains focused on Tuesday’s match.
“It was a really proud moment the other day to be on the sideline, and another great night hopefully for the players on Tuesday night,” Carsley said. He added that the team has had productive training sessions and is ready for the match at Wembley.
Looking ahead to the Finland game, Carsley hinted at potential changes to the starting lineup. “We’ll make two or three changes, freshen the team up a little bit,” he noted. Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White, who debuted as substitutes against Ireland, are in contention for starting roles. Meanwhile, uncapped players Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento are also pushing for their first senior appearances.
Carsley emphasized the competitive nature of the squad, saying, “I think that they’ve all got a chance of playing. I think the level that the players have trained at puts everyone in with the chance of getting minutes or starting the game.”
Despite losing Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden to injuries earlier in the week, the rest of the squad remains fit and ready for the match.
England will look to build on their positive start under Carsley as they face Finland, hoping to secure another three points in their Nations League campaign.
