Lee Carsley confirms that he did NOT apply for England manager’s job following bombshell ‘hopefully’ comments
LEE CARSLEY has confirmed that he did not apply for the England job.
The interim coach has overseen three games for the Three Lions since Gareth Southgate stepped down after Euro 2024.
The FA closed applications for the role on August 2 as they searched for Southgate’s successor.
Carsley, 50, was appointed as the interim coach seven days later.
However, he had revealed that he did not send a formal application for the role.
He said: “I didn’t apply for it.
“Because hopefully… I have been doing the Under-21s and I am really happy with my job.
“I am an employee of the FA and I was asked to take the senior team which is a privilege, it was the proudest moment of my career.
“I am really honoured with the chance to manage the senior team.
“I am in a really fortunate position in that I am on the inside and I can see how much potential this team’s got.
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“It is one of the best jobs in world football. There aren’t many jobs where you’ve got a chance of winning.
“I believe the coach that comes in has got a really good chance of winning and we deserve the best one that’s out there.”
England's shocking stats against Greece
Here are the shocking stats that were set in England's defeat to Greece...
– Lowest ranked side to beat England in a competitive match in 19 years.
– The lowest-ranked side ever beat England on home soil.
– Greece had never beaten England in their history.
– Greece had never scored a goal at Wembley before.
– Pavlidis’ strikes were his first since June 2022 vs Cyprus.
– Bellingham’s 87th-minute equaliser was England’s first shot on target since the third minute (also Bellingham)
Carsley also claimed that he is not treating his interim job as an audition with a view to taking the job full time.
He added: “Definitely not. I don’t see this as an audition at all.
“I see it as simple as I was asked to take the team for three camps, it wasn’t with a view to anything, it was literally do your best try as hard as you can and look after the players and that is what I am doing.”
When asked if he would take the job if it was offered to him, Carsley insisted he is just trying to do his best for the team.
He said: “It’s hypothetical. I think it’s important that we are in a position where, hopefully, we have had a brilliant campaign.
“That will be in a good position going into World Cup qualifying and I would see that as a success.”
The revelation follows his comments in which he suggested he was “hopefully” returning to his role with the Under 21s.
Carsley has since clarified his statement and suggested that he and his team are aiming to be in a “good position” after their three camps with the senior team.
He will be in charge of the team for the Nations League clash against Finland on Sunday.
So far, he has won two of his three games, with the only defeat coming against Greece on Thursday.
England player ratings vs Greece
By Tom Barclay
LEE CARSLEY’S tactical experiment of playing no strikers backfired as Vangelis Pavlidis’ double secured an emotional shock win for Greece at Wembley.
Interim England boss Carsley played all three of our nation’s gifted No10s – Phil Foden, Jue Bellingham and Cole Palmer – in varying positions.
But it did not work and the Greeks took a deserved lead thanks to Pavlidis’ belting second-half finish.
The visitors then held up a shirt in celebration bearing the name Baldock – in reference to their team-mate George Baldock, whose passing at the age of just 31 on Wednesday rocked the world of football.
Bellingham looked to have ensured the points were shared with a thunderous strike with three minutes to go.
But there was still time for Pavlidis to expose some woeful defending deep into injury time by firing past Jordan Pickford.
Here are SunSport’s player ratings from a dire night for England under the arch.
Jordan Pickford: 4
Wandered into no-man’s-land territory outside his box early on and lost the ball, allowing Greek skipper Tasos Baksetas a free shot at goal – only to be saved by Levi Colwill’s last-gasp clearance. Did not instil confidence, despite his experience.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6
Some tasty passes – they are his speciality, after all – but not great at the back. He, John Stones and Cole Palmer were weak in their attempt to close down Vangelis Pavlidis before the Benfica man smashed home the opener.
John Stones: 5
Made captain for what was his 82nd cap, surpassing Rio Ferdinand’s haul. But it was a shaky display from his defence and Stones should have done better to stop Pavlidis.
Levi Colwill: 7
Greece would have been ahead far sooner were it not for Colwill’s athletic hack away to deny Bakasetas. Replays showed it would have crossed the line had the Chelsea man been a split second later with his incredible intervention.
Rico Lewis: 6
Tried to bomb up the left flank where he could but, just like Kieran Trippier at the Euros, was hamstrung by constantly having to cut back onto his favoured right foot.
Declan Rice: 6
Played as England’s only holding midfielder, as fans had been imploring Gareth Southgate to use him for years. It was not like he was overrun but his side did look vulnerable on the counter.
Phil Foden: 4
Spent most of the game pressing the Greek backline as a false nine without really getting on the ball and causing any damage. Ineffective.
Cole Palmer: 6
Deployed in a deeper, central-midfield role which at least meant he saw plenty of the ball, though he blazed England’s best chance of the first half over the bar. Remarkably, his first competitive England start, despite being named on Tuesday as Three Lions player of the 2023-24 season.
Bukayo Saka: 5
Struggled to get into the game and then was forced out of it, worryingly limping off early in the second half. The last thing Arsenal fans wanted to see.
Jude Bellingham: 7 STAR MAN
Played in a false nine position and had a belting early shot well saved. The system did not work but Bellingham still so nearly emerged as the saviour by banging in his first goal of the season for club and country.
Anthony Gordon: 5
Caused Greece few problems and his touch looked off it. Had a decent chance from Alexander-Arnold’s peach of a delivery but headed over.
SUBS:
Noni Madueke (for Saka 52): Played out on the left, rather than his natural right, when coming on. Went down in the box deep into injury time but no penalty was given. 6
Ollie Watkins (for Gordon 60): Almost scored with his first touch when played through by Palmer, but smashed just over. 7
Dominic Solanke (for Foden 72): Grabbed an assist when laying the ball back to Bellingham who thumped in the leveller. 7
Manager Lee Carsley: 4
Seemed to gamble unnecessarily with this experimental system instead of playing it safe to add another win to boost his case to earn the job full-time. Carsley played without a natural centre-forward when winning the Under-21 Euros because he had to after Flo Balogun switched the USA and Rhian Brewster got injured, but here he did it by choice and it did not work. Bellingham looked to have saved his bacon – but then Pavlidis struck again.