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Interim England boss Lee Carsley is gearing up to name his last starting XI as the Three Lions get ready to take on the Republic of Ireland at Wembley tonight! This match marks the end of his time in charge before Thomas Tuchel officially steps in come January.
Carsley jumped into the hot seat after Gareth Southgate’s resignation following England’s gut-wrenching Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Despite the tough situation, he’s led the team to four wins in five games, with just a surprising 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley marring his record. But hey, they bounced back with a solid 3-0 win in Athens, even with nine squad withdrawals due to injuries!
The interim manager has shown he can roll with the punches, putting together a makeshift team in the last match and coming out on top. Tonight, Carsley’s got some fresh challenges, especially in defence. With Ezri Konsa injured, there’s a gap in the backline that might need a little reshuffling. Kyle Walker could slide into central defence alongside Marc Guehi, while Rico Lewis and debutant Lewis Hall take the flanks.
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In midfield, it looks like Carsley will stick with the lively trio of Curtis Jones, Conor Gallagher, and Jude Bellingham. Jones, who scored against Greece, has been a key player, while Anthony Gordon has brought some flair and hard work on the left. Noni Madueke also shone with an assist, showing off England’s depth even without some senior players.
Up front, Carsley has a nice little dilemma. Stand-in striker Ollie Watkins proved his worth by scoring against Greece, but Harry Kane is expected to make his return to the starting XI tonight. The interim boss might want to mix things up in attack, with Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, and Dominic Solanke ready to bring some fresh energy in the later stages.
A win against Ireland would not only secure the top spot in the Nations League group and promotion back to League A but also provide a crucial fallback for World Cup qualifying. Carsley’s time, though short, has steadied the ship, setting the stage for Tuchel’s arrival in January as England aims to break their World Cup drought that dates back to 1966.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Lewis, Walker, Guehi, Hall; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
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