‘We told you!’ Gary Lineker lauds Lee Carsley for addressing THREE problems England fans had with Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024 in his first game as Three Lions interim manager – issues the pundit was criticised for raising in the summer
Gary Lineker has welcomed Lee Carsley’s first-team start in England, saying it has allayed fans’ concerns about Gareth Southgate’s selection for Euro 2024.
Carsley began his time as caretaker manager with a commanding 2-0 Nations League win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
While much of the pre-match conversation focused on the former Everton midfielder’s decision not to sing the national anthem, Lineker chose to focus on the 50-year-old’s team selection in his assessment of the match.
Carsley, who led England’s Young Lions to success at the 2023 European Under-21 Championship, opted for a much-changed line-up in his first match in charge, bringing in the likes of Anthony Gordon, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish.
The trio were the subject of heated debate during this summer’s tournament, with many fans unhappy with the way Southgate fielded the two Merseyside players in Germany, while Grealish was left out of the final squad altogether.
Jack Grealish, who was not in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championship, scored England’s second goal against Ireland
Anthony Gordon (left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) were promptly inserted into the starting line-up in Dublin
Gary Lineker celebrated Carsley’s decision to include the trio in his first England line-up
“It’s also interesting, isn’t it, that maybe three things disappointed the fans the most during the Euros, maybe even more,” Lineker said on the Rest is Football podcast.
‘But everybody wanted Anthony Gordon to play on the left because we all saw a weakness and an imbalance on that side, and also that he could run behind players, because Kane likes to come short and you need a threat behind you, so he did.
The other thing was that he [Southgate] Jack Grealish was left out of the squad, which many people found strange, but he came in and did very well.
“And clearly, he never really trusted Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the first game, Carsley came up with all that stuff and a lot of us are like, ‘See? We told you so.'”
Carsley will be hoping to continue his winning streak as national coach when the Three Lions return to Wembley on Tuesday to take on Finland.
The former Ireland international is set to replace Southgate on a permanent basis, although he has been forced to respond after his singing during the national anthem drew criticism from some quarters.
According to Mail Sport, Carsley’s stance will not harm his chances of a full-time job with England.
“I’m really lucky with the people who are in charge and are my bosses,” he explained.[The FA] know what my strengths are and don’t ask me to be something I’m not.
Carsley will be hoping to maintain his perfect record when the Three Lions take on Finland at Wembley on Tuesday
‘My strength is coaching, being on the field. This (talking) is not my strength, what I am doing now.
“It’s something that comes with the job, as I saw yesterday (with the anthem controversy). I have my own way of doing it.”