US Men Set to Play Mexico Tonight 10 pm TNT after beating Panama 2-0.
The US men got their first win under new manager Mauricio Pochettino Sat night with a 2-0 win over Panama. I thought the US was exciting with crisper ball movement and improved runs into the attacking third – that produced a solid goal in the 2nd half when Pulisic playing the inverted 10 along with Brandon Aaronson connected with his Milan teammate Yanus Musah for his first goal in a US Jersey. Overall I thought the US looked great until the subs came in around te 65th minute. Ream and Mark McKenzie were solid in the middle backline – with McKenzie looking spectacular along with left back Jedi Robinson who was darn near player of the match with his runs up the left side. His combos with Pulisic were fantastic – and he reminds me that he and Pulisic are truly our top 2 players playing in the Europe right now. I thought Josh Sargent blew chance after chance in the 1st half including a an absolute sitter than should have scored. Yes he hustles and has good movement but he’s got to score. Honestly Pepi came off the bench in the 65th minute and slotted one late – Sargent has to do the same while Bologen is missing.
No idea what to expect tonight vs Mexico – listen Poch won his first game and the boys looked sharper and had more counter attack and less just mindlessly passing the ball around vs an inferior team on Sat night – but sending home 5 guys before the Mexico game – including Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic is just nuts? Seriously we only have like 8 more windows of games – not many as tough as tonight might be vs Mexico and you send our best player and Talisman home before the game for load management? Are you friggin kidding me Poch? Absolutely crap decision in my eyes – if he loses tonight – we should be all over him – losing to Mexico – a team we haven’t not beaten in forever is NEVER ACCEPTABLE! In light of sending Pulisic home I see a 1-1 tie tonight – if we are lucky.
Shane’s starters tonight
Vazquez Tillman, Haji Wright Busio, Morris Robinson, Trusty/Ream, McKenzie, Scally Turner
Indy 11 Tie Detroit to stay in 4th – Fan Appreciation Night on Final Game Sat 7 pm vs Birmingham
Hamtramck, Mich. – Indy Eleven goalie Hunter Sulte recorded his ninth clean sheet of the season and his second in a row to help his team to a key road point in a scoreless tie at Detroit City on Saturday afternoon. The Boys in Blue, who are 2-0-2 in their last four games, stayed two points behind third-place Detroit City in the USLC Eastern Conference standings with two games left in the regular season. The top eight teams in the East will compete in the playoffs the first weekend in November, with the top four teams at home. Indy Eleven hosts Fan Appreciation Night next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Birmingham Legion FC in the final home match of the regular season – Fan appreciation night. Single-game tickets are available at Ticketmaster. For information on all ticket options visit the Indy Eleven Ticket Central. For questions, email tickets@indyeleven.com or call (317) 685-1100.
High School – Carmel Girls & Carmel Boys Advance to Regionals – Wed/Thurs
The Carmel Boys took defending state Champs & #2 Ranked Noblesville to PKs (video) and beat them in the shootout in Sectionals Sat evening at Murray Field. Now they will travel to Lawrence North Thursday night. (Game preview)
LADIES
The 3rd ranked Carmel Girls will travel to Brownsburg Wed night at 7 pm in Regional Play vs Brownsburg (game preview) a team they beat 4-1 in the regular season. Win and Carmel comes home to Murray Field for Regional Finals on Saturday at 2 pm vs the winner of Franklin & East Central.
TV SCHEDULE
Tues Oct 15
2:45 pm FS2 Spain vs Serbia
2:45 pm TUDN Greece vs Ireland
7:30 pm FS1 Canada vs Panama
10:30 pm TNT/Univ Mexico vs USMNT
(American’s in Parenthesis)
Sat, Oct 19
9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart
9:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Frankfurt
9:30 am ESPN+ Mgladbach (Scalley) vs Heidenheim
12 noon CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Udinees
6 pm MLS Decision Day
6 pm Apple TV Inter Miami vs New England
7 pm ESPN+, TV Indy 11 vs Birmingham
9 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers
Sun, Oct 20
9 am USA Wolverhampton vs Man City
11 am USA Liverpool vs Chelsea
2:45 pm Para+ Roma vs Inter Milan
3 pm ESPN2 Barcelona vs Sevilla
5 pm ESPN NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Orlando Pride
7:30 pm Para+ Angel City vs Utah NWSL
Tues, Oct 22 Champions League
12:45 pm Par+ AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Club Brugge
3 pm CBSSN Aston Villa vs Bologna
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Dortmund UCL
3 pm Para+ Arsenal vs Shakhtar UCL
3 pm Para+ Juveuntus vs Stuttgart UCL
3 pm Para+ PSG vs PSV (Pepi, Tllman)
4 pm FS2 US Women U17 vs Korea U17 WC
Weds, Oct 23
12:45 pm Para+ Atalanta vs Celtic (CCV) UCL
3 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Barcelona UCL
3 pm Para+ RB Leipzig vs Liverpool UCL
3 pm CBSSN Atletico Madrid vs Lille
4 pm FS2 Poland U17 vs Brazil U17 WWC
7 pm FS2 England U17 vs Korea U17 WWC
Thur, Oct 24
12:45 pm CBSSN Roma vs Dynamo Kiev
12:45 pm Para+ Chelsea vs Pathainaikos
3 pm CBSSN Porto vs Hoffenhiem
3 pm Para+ Fenervbahce vs Man United
3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs AZ
USA
Can Pochettino, Aguirre breathe new life into USMNT-Mexico? Cesar Hernandez and Eric Gomez
Takeaways as the USMNT wins Pochettino’s debut 2-0 over Panama
Pochettino brings belief back to USMNT as reign begins with win vs. Panama ESPN Jeff Carlisle
USA vs. Panama, 2024 Friendly: Man of the Match
Five players depart USMNT roster Adnan Ilyas
Biggest takeaways from Mauricio Pochettino’s first USMNT match
USMNT wins Mauricio Pochettino’s debut, led by the star who’ll guide his reboot
2024 USMNT Friendly: Scouting Mexico
Sargent finally in a “great place” for the USMNT, eager to show what he can do
USMNT squad for Mexico match
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
Defenders: Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (Milan), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Club America)
Goalkeeping
Matt Turner Double Save vs Panama Europa League Great Saves Day 2
Europa Leauge Great Saves Day 1
Great Save US Keeper Gag GK Training on your Own
Reffing
Reffing the Best Job for High School Kids Ever Become a Licensed High School Ref Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13
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Mauricio Pochettino’s week of ‘speaking about confidence’ pays off for Musah and USMNT
By Paul Tenorio Oct 13, 2024 The Athletic
It is a rarity to see Yunus Musah without a smile. An ear-to-ear grin is a mostly-permanent feature for the 21-year-old midfielder.But as he sprinted towards the corner flag on Saturday night in Austin, Texas, having scored his first goal in a U.S. senior men’s national team jersey in his 42nd appearance, the sense of gratification on his face shined through — even for someone who usually has a happy expression plastered on.“That moment,” said Christian Pulisic, his AC Milan and USMNT teammate who provided the assist, “that’s why you play.The 49th-minute goal in a 2-0 friendly win against Panama was also an immediate validation of the instincts of the team’s debuting head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
Musah’s joy was clear after his success in his new role (Tim Warner/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The 52-year-old Argentinian came into his first camp this week intending to spend time with every player on the roster and understand where they stood. The idea was to ensure each of them was handled the right way. It’s why Weston McKennie stayed on the bench on Saturday night; he had entered camp feeling some discomfort after playing in each of Juventus’ last six games, and Pochettino felt it was crucial not to take any risks with the midfielder. It was also why Musah was tested in a new role in his first game under the new regime. Musah reported to camp having played just 45 minutes in Serie A for Milan in September and zero minutes so far in October. Though typically a central midfielder cast in a box-to-box No. 8 role, Pochettino met with Musah and proposed deploying him wider on the right. Pochettino knew Musah had played that role before, both in Arsenal’s academy and also when he first moved to Spain’s Valencia five years ago. In that position, Pochettino felt Musah would have more freedom to push forward on the ball, one of his strengths, without the pressures of being a focal part of the build-up at a time when he isn’t playing regularly for his club and thus wasn’t in his best form.
It worked to perfection early in the second half, when the U.S. built up down their left side through Antonee Robinson, Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson, and Musah came crashing into the box from the right to finish off a Pulisic cross.“It’s always worth trying to build his confidence and to (make him) feel again (that he is) a player that can perform on the pitch,” Pochettino said. “It was an important moment for him, to (show) trust in him, but maybe not to give him too much responsibility in the build-up. It’s only to be in a position that can help the team, and then he arrived there and scored.“Fantastic for him, fantastic for the team. And now maybe he’ll start to perform and behave in a different way, full of confidence. That is the important (factor) in our decision, is trying to help. We are here to help the player to find their best.”
Pochettino and Pulisic speak during the win over Panama (Photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
If there was a theme to the first night under Pochettino, it was exactly that: creating and building confidence. Confidence for each player, but also for a team that was winless in its previous four games. Copa America group-stage elimination was a crushing experience for a squad that knew how expectations were growing and understood how valuable a tournament run would have been on multiple levels, for them, the fanbase and the sport in the United States.Pochettino’s hire was meant to restore some of the confidence and belief in the program.
Center back Tim Ream said Pochettino was “speaking about confidence all week”, and that it was reinforced and transmitted into the group by what he was asking the team to do against Panama. Mostly, players were told to be themselves, embrace their strengths and, as Musah said, “play free”.“He wants us to be solid defensively, and then have guys play the way they are comfortable playing and being confident going forward with the ball,” Ream said. “And everybody saw that, especially in the first 15 minutes. Guys were moving, (there was) intricate passing and getting the ball, moving quick and getting in and around their box. When he tells guys to go and be themselves, it’s a sign that he has confidence in you, and you can see that come out with all the guys out here.”
Things were not perfect. Panama had good chances in the game. Matt Turner was forced into a big double save in the second half and they should have found an equalizer late in the game. As USMNT veteran DaMarcus Beasley said on the Turner Sports broadcast, there were also some mistakes in the build-up that top teams would punish.But, the U.S. won, with Ricardo Pepi adding the second goal in stoppage time.
The result was needed, even if this was just a friendly.
“I looked back at our recent form, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve won’,” Turner said. “Since the Bolivia game (at Copa America, on June 23), right, since we’ve won a game and had a clean sheet? So, yeah, it’s nice to set off this era with a win and a clean sheet. It goes in waves, but winning is something that you learn. You can’t just take it for granted. It takes energy and focus for 90 minutes, especially at this level.”
Pochettino will know that this win was important in building trust and confidence that the ideas he is installing with the team will lead to success. Musah’s goal reinforced that.The job now is to keep carrying it forward.“It’s the first step,” Pochettino said. “To start to grow and be better.”
(Top photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
USA vs. Mexico 2024 preview: key players, predictions, more
- Multiple contributors ESPN FC
Oct 15, 2024, 10:23 AM ET
Get ready for an exciting new chapter of the United States vs. Mexico rivalry!
With recent coaching changes bringing a high-profile figure in Mauricio Pochettino to the U.S. men’s national team, and a more tried and true veteran in Javier Aguirre to Mexico’s men’s side, both programs will have a chance to reach an early milestone when they meet Tuesday for a friendly.
Long gone are the former coaches who recently failed to impress at the Copa América. It’s now The Aguirre and Pochettino Show for Concacaf’s two biggest giants, and they will be eager to make their mark against one another.
Tuesday’s match at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron isn’t just about regional superiority either. With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something ahead of the 2026 World Cup that their countries will co-host, the upcoming friendly will also display what path they’re paving.
ESPN brings you everything you need to know about the clash, with team analysis, predictions, key players and more from former Mexico international Jared Borgetti alongside experts Cesar Hernandez, Daniel Rodríguez, Omar Flores and Lizzy Becherano.
Both teams are in reset mode right now. What led them to this point?
Like Mexico, there have been few positives for the U.S. to point to since the 2022 World Cup. With the goal of showcasing that they’re not just a big fish in a Concacaf-sized pond, the USMNT has struggled against elite teams, notably in the summer’s disastrous early exit from the Copa América. A couple of winless friendlies heading into the tournament also foreshadowed doom for the USMNT. There’s no lack of promising talent within the roster, but there was also little evidence that previous coach Gregg Berhalter was the right person to help elevate both the players and overall structure, which have a high ceiling. — Cesar Hernandez
A series of bad decisions and poor results. It’s amazing how in Mexico they could make the things worse each time and, after group stage elimination at the 2022 World Cup, managers, coaches and players have since shown that it could be even worse. With the United States, it hasn’t been very different. Even though it has important players at Europe, the reality is that it hasn’t been able to make a project work the right way after constant coaching changes, problems beyond the pitch and without the right process to grow as a national team. — Daniel Rodriguez
This change of coaches for United States and Mexico shows that they are looking to do things differently. Both teams feel that they have stagnated and that with the players they have, they perhaps should have achieved better things in recent tournaments. Mexico is bringing a coach (Aguirre) who already knows what it’s like to be there, who knows the Mexican soccer players well and who has helped them achieve important things in the past. The U.S. is betting on an international coach who has had a brilliant career as a player and manager. With the majority of each team’s players in Europe, the bet is quite interesting for both sides. — Jared Borgetti
What are the strengths and weaknesses of each team going into this game?
It was a small window through just one game, but there was a lot to enjoy about the fluid movement of the USMNT attack that had a dangerous player like Christian Pulisic (who will miss this friendly to rejoin his club side AC Milan) dictating things as a crafty winger who tucked inside. Alongside him, Brenden Aaronson had some brief moments of magic, as did goal scorers Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi.
When looking at weaknesses, it may take some time for the USMNT to fine-tune its defensive transition. Pochettino and his men were lucky to have not allowed a goal in his debut match vs. Panama, who occasionally launched forward and asked serious questions of the backline. — Hernandez
Editor’s Picks
- Can Pochettino, Aguirre breathe new life into USMNT-Mexico?1dCesar Hernandez and Eric Gomez
- USA-Mexico: Who makes the all-time XI for each team?1dCesar Hernandez and Eduardo Sánchez
- Pochettino brings belief back to USMNT as reign begins with win vs. Panama2dJeff Carlisle
El Tri’s strength is team play. The squad identifies with the coach, and that will translate to its play on the field. The weaknesses? Well, I think that at the moment Mexico is experiencing a lack of confidence after poor results. It has to get the fans involved quickly and channel that support. I think that’s important because the fans have distanced themselves from the national team’s matches, and the team needs them now more than ever. — Borgetti
Mexico’s main strength is on the defensive side. César Montes and Johan Vásquez have played together since the under-23s, and they have already won a bronze medal. They have also been the most regular duo in recent years.
Mexico’s main weakness is on the other side of the field with the strikers. As managers, Diego Cocca, Jaime Lozano and Javier Aguirre have tried with different players to address the lack of a top scorer. During Copa América, Mexico scored only one goal in the matches against Venezuela and Ecuador. It is expected that, with the return of Raúl Jiménez, this problem will be fixed. — Omar Flores
Who are the players to watch for each team?
For the U.S., the crafty and clever Pulisic is the easy answer, although U.S. Soccer announced Sunday that he’ll be leaving camp early. Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Zack Steffen and Pepi will also return to their clubs.
Looking elsewhere, Mexico must find a way to stifle an energetic fullback/wingback like Antonee Robinson. The Fulham player covered an immense amount of ground on the left flank against Panama and provided a key pass that helped lead to a goal, all while being able to sprint back and halt counters.
It’s early days, but in Poch’s fluid tactical setup that can move between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-3, Robinson is an invaluable cog. — Hernandez
I think it doesn’t have to be one specifically, because we don’t have someone who is really going to catapult us into success. We haven’t had a player who carries the team for a while. The important thing is that the group grasps the idea of what it wants to accomplish and its playing style. That’s what matters the most, beyond whether someone individually can do something extraordinary that ends up winning a game. I would lean more toward the team’s game system rather than a singular player. — Borgetti
A problem for Mexico is the lack of stars. Still, the most important players from Javier Aguirre’s squad are the veterans Guillermo Ochoa and Jiménez. The goalkeeper of 39 years has another shot to prove that he’s the best option for the next World Cup after the great performances of Luis Malagón with his team (América) and the recent appearance of Álex Padilla with Athletic Bilbao.
Jiménez had a brilliant month in the Premier League with four goals and one assist. One of the greatest coaches, Pep Guardiola, says that “he is back” and that’s what Aguirre, alongside the national team, expects. — Flores
A huge strength for Mexico is their players with World Cup experience. It will be interesting to see if a “new” player is granted a huge number of minutes to prove that he can break into the starting lineup. Rodrigo Huescas or Marcel Ruiz could be an example of this. But the main story to follow is if Ochoa will start against the United States and the possible debut of forward Germán Berterame. — Rodríguez
Which team has more to lose right now and why?
It’s Mexico. Their national team is already on thin ice with a fan base that has already booed and jeered El Tri after its latest 2-2 draw with an alternate Valencia side. Unlike Pochettino, who is a fresh face still adjusting to his surroundings, Mexico’s Aguirre has returned for a third time and is expected to once again be a firefighter. Being unable to smother the USMNT’s flames would be a significant and early blemish for Aguirre, especially due to playing at home. — Hernandez
How the Pochettino USMNT era got off to a winning start
Check out some of the stats and figures behind the United States’ 2-0 win over Panama in Maurico Pochettino’s first game as head coach.
I think Mexico has much more to lose because it is playing on home soil. Friendly matches against the U.S. have rarely been played in Mexico. So today I think it would be important, under Aguirre, to play a good game, and it’s also important to forge a new connection with the fans. A good victory against the United States would sort out the laziness a little and help get things back on track. — Borgetti
It’s a simple friendly match, and it will only help both coaches gather some information about each other, but nothing beyond that. We could think that, with Mexico being the host, a defeat will only make things worse, and the crisis would just carry on, but if it wins it would also be wrong to assume that it could turn the page. — Rodríguez
What can we expect from the atmosphere in Guadalajara? How are Mexico fans approaching the game?
There has been a lot of chat around the game that fans are not buying many tickets. But we’ll see a good match at Guadalajara, which has a lot of expectation, and I think we can expect a sellout. Only with results will people fall in love again, not an interview or what you say ahead of the match. What people really care about is the outcome and a good display. — Borgetti
Mexico’s matches in its own country are less intense than in the United States. El Tri does not have a real connection at its own turf because most of the games are held on American soil, and the recent scores do not help. FMF is making an effort so the team can reconnect with the fans, and it hopes the anti-gay chant, which started in Guadalajara at Jalisco, doesn’t appear again. The best way to counterattack this is with goals and a good streak of matches. — Flores
It’s easy to assume that the fans in Jalisco could lead to a capacity crowd at the stadium because there aren’t many visits of the national team to that part of the country, even more so when you’re facing the biggest rival. Now, as always at Estadio Azteca or the games in United States, the atmosphere will depend on how the match develops and if the team is winning or losing. In the opening minutes, the fans will show support, but this could change quickly depending on how the game goes. — Rodríguez
What will it take for the USMNT to clinch its second win in Mexico following 2012’s victory?
Mexico’s attack won’t be as kind as Panama’s, so the USMNT must tighten up its defensive structure during transition moments. Going forward, focusing on the left with rapid overlapping runs from Robinson, as well as Pulisic’s substitute likely roaming inside in the same manner, will be sure to provide some avenues against a Mexican defense that has its own set of worries. — Hernandez
How will the absence of key players impact the USMNT’s preparations and team selection?
Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to rotate players against Mexico in Guadalajara, given the departure of five players from the U.S. men’s national team camp.
Fossey, Steffen, Mckennie, Pepi departed the October USMNT camp after the 2-0 victory over Panama on Oct. 12 due to injuries, while Pulisic returned to AC Milan to avoid work overload. The new manager admitted to feeling disappointed in their exit, but insists the friendly now serves as the last chance to observe players before the next international window. Alejandro Zendejas, Brandon Vázquez, Malik Tillman and Haji Wright could all see more time in the absence of Pulisic and Pepi.
Though the team expects a difficult match against Aguirre’s Mexico, Pochettino maintained that playing on Mexican soil will give his players the opportunity to learn and grow in the face of adversity. Playing against one of the USMNT’s biggest rivals in front of a sold-out crowd at Estadio Akron will challenge the United States to grow and improve ahead of the 2026 World Cup. — Lizzy Becherano
What are your score predictions and why?
2-2. With both coaches still trying to put their stamp on their teams, this feels like a match in which attackers will have chances to capitalize on defensive hiccups. Either way, it should be a fun one, with plenty of players wanting to make a name for themselves under their new coach. — Hernandez
Mexico will beat United States 2-1. It will be Aguirre’s fourth match in his new tenure, and he has more knowledge of his players than Pochettino does. Also, Aguirre was the last Mexico coach to beat the United States and is never afraid to sacrifice the team’s style if he can get the win. — Flores
This match should be a close one because it will be held on Mexican soil, and the home team should take advantage, even if we’re talking about a friendly match. Predicting a score isn’t easy, but Mexico should come out on top of this one 2-1. — Rodríguez
Lee Carsley’s England future no longer looks secure after confusing moments on the pitch and off it
By Jack Pitt-Brooke Oct 11, 2024
Follow live coverage of Finland vs England in the Nations League today
It felt before this game that the one thing Lee Carsley had to do was to keep the ship afloat. Just guide HMS Carsball through the relatively benign waters of Nations League Group B2 and surely the permanent England manager’s job would be his.But over the course of Thursday evening at Wembley the ship ran aground, not once but twice. Suddenly, what felt like a secure future for the England team, a clear course from here to the United States, Canada or Mexico for the World Cup in 2026, does not look quite as certain any more.First, when England put in a disastrously bad performance, thoroughly outplayed by Greece, flattered by a 2-1 scoreline which should have been far worse. Carsley fielded an experimental system: no recognised striker, too much creative talent. England looked unbalanced, confused and painfully vulnerable whenever they lost the ball.The second time was after the game, when Carsley gave his press conference. Asked whether England’s defeat might damage his chances of getting appointed permanently, Carsley gave an answer which surprised the room: “I was quite surprised after the last camp, in terms of ‘the job’s mine’ and ‘it’s mine to lose’ and all the rest of it,” Carsley said. “My remit has been clear. I’m doing three camps, there’s three games left and then hopefully I’ll be going back to the under-21s.”
Carsley was asked to clarify his comments more than once and he took half a step back, reiterating that he “would not rule myself in or out” of the process, and insisting that being England manager was “one of the best jobs in the world”. But it was neither a firm statement that he wanted the job, nor that he wanted to fully wash his hands of it.
Carsley watches on as England lose to Greece (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
Maybe Carsley was trying to push back against the assumption that the job was automatically his. Maybe he was trying to say that he was relaxed about the outcome, whether he gets the top job or goes back to leading England Under-21s instead. Maybe he was trying to take the pressure off the FA. But the net result was to leave people with more questions than answers — much like the game we had all just watched.
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Coming into the Greece match, the big question was how Carsley would integrate Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer into the team that won both games last month without them. This was the conundrum that predecessor Gareth Southgate could never solve, as England failed to get anywhere near the best out of those three at the European Championship this summer. The hope was that Carsley, with his extra level of tactical nous, would be able to fit the pieces together.
The solution, with Harry Kane out injured, was for Bellingham to start up front, with Foden and Palmer in the midfield. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka were on the wings, leaving Declan Rice to do all the legwork in midfield. Here, finally, was an unshackled, unleashed England. Southgate’s handbrake had been ripped from the car and tossed out of the window.
And it was a mess.
England created only one real chance before Bellingham’s late equaliser — Palmer skying a shot from a Bellingham pull-back. Beyond that, it was plenty of possession around the edge of Greece’s penalty area that went nowhere, quite a few crosses to no one in particular and a strong sense that this was no solution at all to England’s problems. The more creativity they had on the pitch, the less they created.
And yet we have all seen England struggle to create chances before. That in itself is nothing new, even with this much firepower in the team. What truly stands out from this game is England’s weakness at the back.
It is difficult to think of a worse England defensive performance in recent memory.
In June 2022, they lost 4-0 to Hungary at Molineux in a Nations League game that saw the crowd turn on Southgate in a bitter, personal way. But that day Southgate chased the game in the second half and England conceded three late goals on the break.
England lost 2-1 to Greece on Thursday night (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Last night, the whole match felt like that. England were never more vulnerable than when they had the ball. Every time they lost it, Greece broke straight through them. On another day, they would have conceded five or six.
Watching Greece slice through England was to realise that maybe we got carried away last month. It was easy enough to assume that Carsley could take the good bits of the Southgate era — the team ethic, the defensive structure, the solid base — and sprinkle some tactical imagination on top. But here England had a surfeit of tactical imagination and very little else. Carsley had added the icing but lost the cake.
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It made you realise that, for all the criticisms thrown at Southgate, there was a reason he had such a consistent record as England manager. Gazball was maybe not to everyone’s taste but England have never been better at calmly negotiating games like this one than under their previous manager.
The tangle Carsley got himself into when talking about the job afterwards was also a situation Southgate would never have found himself in, given his knack of seemingly having a prepared answer for everything, and never starting a sentence unless he knew exactly how he would end it.
The good news is that England have another game on Sunday. HMS Carsball is now heading to Helsinki. This game could just be a bad one-off, a brave gamble that did not work.
If Kane comes through training on Friday and returns to the team, England will have their keystone back to face Finland. If England can get back to the structure they showed in September, there is no reason they cannot finish this Nations League campaign strongly.
But we will need to know what Carsley’s England, at their best, are meant to look like.
Is this a team built on paper or a team built for tournaments? Does Carsley think the problem with England at Euro 2024 was that they were too in awe of their creative stars, or not in awe enough? Does he know a route to winning a trophy that can bypass all of the methodical, functional aspects of the early Southgate era?
These are the pressing questions, even more than whether he actually wants this job or not.
The Ole BallCoach 