Lee Carsley has had his first successes as England's interim manager. The 50-year-old won two convincing games with four goals scored and kept a clean sheet. More importantly, Carsley has shown the stability of the "Three Lions" in just the first 10 days of taking over.
However, in just three weeks, Carsley will announce a new squad ahead of the games against Greece and Finland at FIFA Days in October. The upcoming England squad will not be the same as the current one, with the return of stars such as Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer. However, Carsley said he has outlined a specific plan to prepare.
Carsley is facing a number of different targets. His first priority is to help England escape Group 2 of the Nations League. Besides, the strategist born in 1974 is also aware that the bigger goal is qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The way Lee Carsley talks about his plans, he is showing that he is a real head coach, not an interim.
Carsley has been careful not to let his expectations get the better of him, as the former Brentford boss has spoken about the immense responsibility and pressure of managing one of the world's top teams.
The win over Finland was somewhat easier than the game in Dublin last weekend. The game against Ireland was a particular challenge, not only because of the hostile atmosphere away from home but also because of the many non-footballing issues surrounding Carsley’s former Irish career. However, Carsley handled it all with composure, adding to his own credibility.
Against Finland, Lee Carsley faced another challenge, having to build a team capable of dealing with the visitors’ compact defence. England overcame it with patience and intelligence, and showed some bright spots in their play. In particular, the new and brave decisions of the interim captain brought success to the “Three Lions”.
Unlike EURO 2024, Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to his usual right-back position. The Liverpool star played brilliantly with beautiful passes and participated in both goals. In addition, Angel Gomes was used instead of Conor Gallagher or Kobbie Mainoo. The Lille midfielder repaid Carsley's trust by performing excellently in his first call-up.
Two games is not enough to fully assess Lee Carsley, but he has started well and England are on the right track. The fluidity of the players, from Alexander-Arnold’s movement to Anthony Gordon’s explosiveness on the left, has been a highlight. The next question is whether Gordon and Grealish will keep their places when Foden and Bellingham return.
Carsley is currently in the interim role. These results could see his reign extended until October or November. The FA are looking for other candidates in the meantime. However, if he continues to impress in the upcoming matches, Lee Carsley could be one step closer to becoming England's permanent manager.
