Knowing that victory will assure them of a direct route back into the top tier of the UEFA Nations League, England conclude League B Group 2 at home to the Republic of Ireland on Sunday evening.
The visit of the Boys in Green will also mark the end of Lee Carsley‘s interim reign, two months after he masterminded a 2-0 victory over his birth nation in his inaugural game in charge.
Match preview
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No longer having to bat away incessant questions over his future in the England hotseat, Carsley witnessed his England team play with the freedom he must now surely feel on Thursday evening, when they avenged October’s loss to Greece in ruthless fashion.
Selected to start over captain Harry Kane amid reports of a niggle for the Bayern Munich forward, Ollie Watkins took just seven minutes to draw first blood, before an incredibly unfortunate Odysseas Vlachodimos own goal and audacious Curtis Jones flick eradicated any doubt.
Anything other than three points in Athens and England could have kissed their hopes of automatic promotion goodbye, but on account of sinking the Greeks by three goals to nil, the Three Lions have both surged into first place and overtaken Greece on the decisive head-to-head goals tally.
Victory at Wembley in Carsley’s final game in charge will confirm England’s return to League A at the first attempt, before the Under-21 Euros-winning boss steps back down to youth level and hands the reins over to Thomas Tuchel, whose first match at the helm could be a Nations League promotion playoff if England fall short this weekend.
Home has never been where the heart is for the Three Lions in the Nations League, though, as they have only ever won four of their first 10 matches on familiar soil in the competition, while only earning one success from their last five in front of their own fans.
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While England are still waiting to learn whether they will shoot straight back up to League A or go through the rigmarole of a promotion playoff, Sunday’s match is nothing more than a dead rubber for Ireland, whose fate has already been sealed.
Heimir Hallgrimsson‘s men squared up to Finland in a bottom-of-the-group showdown on November 14, where Brighton & Hove Albion hotshot Evan Ferguson came up with the telling contribution, but Caoimhin Kelleher‘s marvellous double save from Joel Pohjanpalo‘s penalty and Robin Lod‘s follow-up was just as crucial.
By keeping Finland at arm’s bay in Dublin, Ireland condemned the Scandinavians to immediate relegation to League C while also confirming a third-placed finish, meaning that they will have to fight for their second-tier status in a playoff against a runner-up from League C.
Perpetual League B participants in the Nations League since the tournament’s inauguration in 2018-19, Ireland have now finished third in all four of their campaigns in the competition, but they have failed to win or even score against an opponent not named Finland in this year’s section.
Two former Boys in Green – Jack Grealish and Declan Rice – were responsible for Ireland’s demise at the Aviva Stadium in September, which extended England’s unbeaten run against Sunday’s visitors to eight matches since a 1-0 loss at Euro 1988, one of the shocks of the tournament.
England Nations League form:
England form (all competitions):
Republic of Ireland Nations League form:
Republic of Ireland form (all competitions):
Team News
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Backed to immediately fire again after being consigned to a substitute appearance on Thursday, Kane has been confirmed as a starter for Sunday’s finale by Carsley, who lost no fewer than nine players to injury before the midweek success.
The departing England boss now has a fresh concern to deal with, as Ezri Konsa was forced off for debutant Lewis Hall in the 3-0 win over Greece with a hip injury and has now withdrawn, so either Jarell Quansah or Taylor Harwood-Bellis could stick their hand up for a senior England baptism.
Kane may not be the only change afoot in attack, as Jarrod Bowen and another recent debutant in Morgan Rogers could offer alternative options out wide, but Jude Bellingham should continue in the number 10 slot.
Ireland boss Hallgrimsson will also be forced into at least one alteration on Sunday, as midfield fulcrum Jason Knight picked up his second yellow card of the group against Finland, meaning that he serves a one-game suspension on Sunday.
The Boys in Green are also sweating over the fitness of Watford wide man Festy Ebosele, who made his first senior start for his country in midweek but hobbled off with an injury midway through the second half; Kasey McAteer and Finn Azaz are on standby.
With Knight on the naughty step, Jayson Molumby should come in to partner Josh Cullen in the heart of midfield, and AZ Alkmaar hotshot Troy Parrott – who already has seven Eredivisie goals this season – is an option to replace Sammie Szmodics up front.
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Lewis, Guehi, Harwood-Bellis, Hall; Gallagher, Gomes; Bowen, Bellingham, Rogers; Kane
Republic of Ireland possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; McAteer, Cullen, Molumby, Johnston; Parrott, Ferguson
We say: England 3-0 Republic of Ireland
Much was made of England’s spate of withdrawals earlier this month, but multiple players pulling out has allowed others to thrive, and Carsley’s young guns should flaunt their talent to the maximum once again on Sunday.
Ireland should not roll over and accept defeat, but there is every chance that they will stay in third or fourth gear with nothing significant on the line, and Carsley should get one over his home country yet again to bow out on a high.
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