England offer glimpse into future in Greece to leave Thomas Tuchel pondering key Harry Kane decision | OneFootball

Lee Carsley’s to drop Kane and start Ollie Watkins was largely vindicated

With Harry Kane watching from the bench for over an hour, England offered a glimpse of the future as they took control of their Nations League group with an impressive 3-0 win over Greece.

This, though, was a night when England’s new generation made their case and it will surely have given incoming head coach Thomas Tuchel plenty to ponder.

Depending on what happens against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday – a game which England now only need to win to guarantee promotion in the Nations League – Kane’s position in the England side may be one of the biggest talking points when the German takes charge of his first camp next March.

Carsley’s decision to leave Kane on the bench was all the more surprising because England needed to win by two clear goals and so many other senior players were missing – leading to a slapdown from Kane on the eve of the match.

Ollie Watkins fired England in front inside seven minutes

AFP via Getty Images

It was the first time Kane has been left out of a must-win competition game when fit since he established himself as England’s centre-forward and there were only three survivors from Gareth Southgate’s XI for the Euro 2024 Final in July: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker and Jude Bellingham, who impressed and forced the second goal when his shot came back off the post and struck Vlachodimos.

The Real Madrid midfielder also made the opening goal, sending a pass towards Noni Madueke, who galloped into space down the right flank as the defenders backed off. Madueke kept his cool, delaying for a second before darting to the byline and squaring for Watkins to finish first-time.

It was the kind of chance Kane would have snaffled up too, but the question is whether he would have had the legs to get in position as quickly as Watkins?

The pace of England’s front line certainly unsettled Greece, and Madueke and Anthony Gordon were both lively, demonstrating their ability to go inside or out.

Kostas Tsimikas was run ragged by Madueke at times but provided a scare of his own late in the first half when he forced a brilliant one-handed save from Pickford.

At half-time, Carsley could reflect that his young side had played with maturity, taking the sting out of an intimidating atmosphere in the build-up to the interval with a composed spell of possession.

Rico Lewis and Bellingham, whose instinctive cushioned header came back of the post, went close to doubling England’s lead after the break but Greece still carried a threat, Fotis Ioannidis drawing another excellent save from the goalkeeper.

Jude Bellingham’s shot led to England’s second goal

The FA via Getty Images

When Kane was sent on, forming a new front three with Jarrod Bowen and debutant Morgan Rogers, it was not for a rescue mission but neither were England comfortable, and they were still a goal short of going top of the group.

He soon had a sighter, curling an effort too close to the goalkeeper from the edge of the box, but it was Bellingham, considered by many to be England's new talisman, who fashioned the decider, driving forward and firing a low shot off the base of the post and into the goalkeeper's leg.

Jones capped an encouraging display at the base of midfield with an outstanding third goal, a first-time back-heeled flick after good work from another substitute Morgan Gibbs-White and Bowen.

Carsley promised he had learned from England’s shambolic 2-1 defeat to Greece last month, and in Athens he succeeded with what was effectively the opposite approach.

At Wembley, Carsley tried to shoehorn as many as England’s best players into the XI as possible – their natural positions be damned. Watkins was overlooked so Bellingham could play as a false nine; Conor Gallagher was benched to accommodate Cole Palmer in midfield.

The result was an unstructured mess and a deserved victory for Greece, who were unlucky not to win by more goals.

Carsley promised a “more conventional” side at the Olympic Stadium and England were significantly better, their senior players stepping up and the youngsters making a case for inclusion. It ensures Tuchel will avoid an unwanted Nations League play-off if England win again this weekend.

If there was a lesson for Tuchel, perhaps it is to play square pegs in square holes but he will now be left pondering Kane’s long-term status in this team.