The Three Lions are on course to return to the top tier of European football after a resounding win – but it was an uncomfortable night for Harry Kane
Gary Neville claimed last summer that England have been unable to control games in midfield for the last 20-30 years, but Curtis Jones has offered them hope of a brighter future in which the Three Lions can dominate the ball, and thus dominate international football. Jones was nowhere to be seen at Euro 2024, when Neville made his scathing assessment of the team's sluggish performances, but he was everywhere as England secured an emphatic 3-0 win over Greece.
The 23-year-old had never played a minute of senior football for his country before Thursday, but he looked like a seasoned veteran of international football in Athens, running the show from the back of the midfield. The Liverpool star showed he could rival Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo for a place in the team with a performance that managed to portray both his maturity and his arrogance, particularly his ridiculously cool backheel strike which rounded off a satisfying evening for the Three Lions.
This was a night when Lee Carsley redeemed himself for his tactical horror show against Greece just one month before, the interim boss doing his permanent successor Thomas Tuchel a favour in the process. But he also left captain Harry Kane in an awkward position by benching England's all-time top scorer. And most worryingly for Kane, the decision proved to be a masterstroke.
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AFPWINNER: Curtis Jones
Could life be any better for Curtis Jones than it is right now? He recently became a father, he is playing a key role in a Liverpool side who have made a record-breaking start to the season and now he is not just a full England international, but an England goal-scorer. And what a fine goal it was.
Jones has lacked fortune with England before, missing games he would have played in due to injury and being left out of the squad for Euro 2024. But everything fell into place for him to make his long-awaited debut this week. With Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo both missing these internationals, Jones was the obvious choice for holding midfield and he was outstanding. The 23-year-old sat just in front of the defence and worked up a wonderful understanding with Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, exchanging passes with the two centre-backs so he could dictate the tempo.
He grew in confidence as the game went on and pushed further forward, and if any proof was needed of how good he is feeling, it lay in the chutzpah of his delicious backheel, which rounded off a perfect evening for him and his country. Rice and Mainoo have been warned.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Harry Kane
Kane took a firm line the day before the game by calling out his many team-mates who had dropped out of the squad in recent days. And it sounds like Carsley didn't appreciate it, as he took the surprising move to bench the captain for Watkins. Kane could then only watch on as his main rival for the No.9 spot scored within seven minutes.
Watkins' movement throughout the game was impressive, although his control was less so and he bungled a dream pass from Rico Lewis which should have set him free towards goal just before half-time.
Kane had plenty of time to demonstrate that he should have started when he replaced Watkins in the 66th minute, but he could not put up a convincing argument. He had one attempt from outside the box, which was comfortably trapped by Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. He also struggled to find his fellow attackers and it was telling that both of England's goals in the second half came from breakaway moves in which he was not involved.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Lee Carsley
England's previous fixture with Greece seemed to serve as proof that Carsley was not up to becoming permanent manager. He had made several baffling selection calls at Wembley, fielding Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as centre-forwards with just one defensive-minded midfielder. They all back-fired as England sunk to an embarrassing 2-1 loss. Carsley made more eye-catching decisions here, though, and they made far more sense even before they paid off.
Carsley's biggest call was to start Watkins over Kane, something that many pundits and fans were urging Gareth Southgate to do during Euro 2024. Southgate was fiercely loyal to Kane, who he first worked with when he was Under-21s coach. Given how Kane performed in Germany, you could say he was too loyal. But Carsley will be leaving the senior men's team within a week and he went with his head rather than his heart. The team were better off for it, as Watkins looked far more mobile than Kane and his unpredictable movement helped stretch the Greek defence.
The coach's use of Jones and Noni Madueke also paid off handsomely, making for a fluid England attack. He used his substitutions well too, as he ensured Kyle Walker was less exposed when he put him to centre-back and restored Rico Lewis to his natural right side.
The scoreline means that England are now well-placed to win the group and return to the top tier of the Nations League. If they can get the job done against Ireland on Sunday, then Carsley can return to his previous role with the U21s with his head held high.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Thomas Tuchel
The next England boss has been the subject of plenty of criticism for not taking charge of the team for the final Nations League games, and his decision not to show up in any capacity either in Athens or at Wembley on Sunday against Ireland has also not gone down well with the national media. The German had claimed that he wanted to begin work with the "singular focus" of the 2026 World Cup and did not want be distracted by the Nations League, but he would have had to take charge of a two-legged Nations League promotion play-off had England failed to win here.
The victory means that England look set to avoid that fate and, as long as they take care of Ireland, Tuchel's first two matches in charge next March will be in the World Cup qualifiers. But that's not the only reason why he will be pleased. When he watches the game back, he will be reminded of the strength England have in depth and feel even more confident about his chances of success.
And should he choose to prolong his stay as England manager beyond 2026, he can likely look forward to facing top-level opposition in the next edition of the Nations League.