WHAT a difference seven weeks and the selection of Angel Gomes can make.
Back in mid-June England were defeated by Spain at the climax of Euro 2024, a loss that had a nation feeling conflicted and confused.
Reaching another major final was to be celebrated for sure, but the sterile nature of England’s performances were a legitimate concern. Indeed, it felt like Kane and Bellingham and co had navigated a path to Berlin despite themselves and that’s fine as a one-off but hardly bodes well if it’s a long-term circumstance.
We couldn’t even gripe about this properly either what with Gareth Southgate – the man who served up beans on toast from the finest ingredients – leaving soon after.
Instead we grumbled and mumbled, about what should have been viewed as a successful summer. Instead we put international fare behind us and got excited about a new Premier League season.
Enter Lee Carsley, in an interim capacity, whose first opponents as England boss are the Republic of Ireland, a country he made 40 appearances for as a player.
Anyone who saw England Under 21s conquer Europe last year under the former Everton star will be aware that here is a coach who appreciates that risk leads to rewards. He reimagines players in different positions, not because he is unsure where to play them yet considers them too good to omit – and yes, that’s a dig at Southgate – but for the greater good. James Garner was deployed at right-back. Anthony Gordon played up front. Angel Gomes’ highly effective transformation at Lille from a winger into a central midfielder was transferred to the international stage.
As the group stage was bossed, and Portugal, Israel and Spain were overcome, England’s lion cubs were essentially set up without a midfield fulcrum, relying instead on two box-to-boxers and Cole Palmer dropping deep to receive the ball. And what this resulted in was fluid, adventurous football, the players clearly loving every minute of it.
Imagine that. England players enjoying themselves.
Naturally therefore his temporary appointment piqued interest while a lot of intrigue accompanied his first squad selection. Would it be bold, intimating a new dawn? Or would it suggest Carsley was intent on playing it safe, picking big-name players for their reputations as much as for their ability?
Granted, the new gaffer’s hand was forced to an extent, or it could even be said to have been aided, by some key withdrawals. Jude Bellingham is unavailable, as too is Phil Foden, and with both exceptional talents in danger of becoming the modern-day Lampard and Gerrard conundrum that puts that particular talking point on the back-burner for now.
The international retirement of Kieran Trippier is a blessing in disguise too, the 33-year-old a fading force in Germany.
Yet still, there have been omissions that reveal Carsley wants to shake things up and do things his way. There is no Ramsdale. No Walker. No Toney.
Instead, what we have is a fresh looking, unfamiliar roster. Four of the players readying themselves for the second-tier of the Nations League – and all the expectations to comfortably succeed that come from that – are uncapped. Over half of the squad have ten caps or fewer.
Of the newbies, the promotion of Morgan Gibbs-White stands out, the Nottingham Forest creative playing just off Gordon when the Under 21s were victorious.
Starting this campaign with a bang, Gibbs-White has averaged three shots and three key passes per 90 as well as six completed dribbles. Moreover, his chance of game-time in Dublin has significantly improved from Cole Palmer dropping out this week.
Then there’s Palmer’s club team-mate Noni Madueke who has statistically been Chelsea’s best performer so far in 2024/25. And Eberechi Eze who curled in a beauty at Stamford Bridge last week. We saw in patches over the summer what the winger can offer England going forward.
Add in the inclusion of Angel Gomes, and Rico Lewis and Tino Livramento brought in to provide youthful impetus to the full-back roles and what we have is a fascinating mix of the established and the new. It’s the promise of ‘Carsball’ and an adventurous future.
The Republic of Ireland also turn over a new leaf this Saturday, it being the first game in charge for Heimir Hallgrimsson, the ex-Iceland boss appointed way back in June.
If England’s change of direction is a welcomed one, for Ireland it is born from necessity, the Boys in Green firmly in the doldrums at present with not enough quality players capable of getting them out of it.
Recent Ipswich signings Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene can be a threat against anyone while Kasey McAteer impressed at times for Leicester last season in the Championship, but where are the goals coming from in this team? Surely the hosts’ best chance of beating England for the first time since the 1988 Euros is from a set piece and stout defending. Failing that, perhaps a moment of individual brilliance that cannot be accounted for.
Such has been the way for Ireland for a good while now too, winning only three of their last 12 fixtures, two of them against Gibraltar.
Damningly, they have failed to get on the score-sheet in four of their last six meetings and frankly Hallgrimsson has one heck of a job to turn that around.
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