Evening Standard
·13. Oktober 2024
Evening Standard
·13. Oktober 2024
Lee Carsley will revert to a more conventional line-up in Helsinki
Lee Carsley is set to ring the changes in Finland after his ultra-attacking England team selection backfired against Greece.
Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, Angel Gomes, Marc Guehi and Kyle Walker are all pushing to come into the team as Carsley seeks a more balanced side.
Carsley fielded five attacking players against Greece and will revert to a more conventional line-up in Helsinki.
Kane missed Thursday’s shock 2-1 defeat against Greece but is expected to lead the line.
Guehi will return at centre-back alongside John Stones, with Walker at right-back and there have been indications that Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line to start as an inverted left-back.
Bukayo Saka was forced off after picking up a leg issue against Greece
The FA via Getty Images
Gomes is set to partner Declan Rice in midfield and Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Grealish are set to line up behind Kane.
Phil Foden, who has started only two consecutive matches for Manchester City this season because of illness and a lack of match fitness, looks likely to drop to the bench.
Bukayo Saka has left the England camp and returned to Arsenal after suffering an injury in the Greece game.
Saka was substituted in the second half at Wembley and Carsley said the Arsenal star “felt something in his leg”.
Carsley will also be without Curtis Jones in Helsinki after the Liverpool midfielder stayed in England owing to a personal commitment.
Ahead of the Finland game, Carsley said: “I think it’s important we freshen the team up a little bit but we feel confident we are in a good place.
“It’s important that we do try something different at times and I think I’ll be a better coach for that, but I think we’ll be a bit more conventional.”
Predicted England XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Gomes, Palmer, Bellingham, Grealish, Kane
Injured: Saka
Unavailable: Jones
Date and time: 5pm BST on Sunday October 13, 2024
Venue: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
TV channel: ITV1