Nations League
Nov 14, 2024 7.45pm
0
3
HT : 0 1
FT Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis
  • Anastasios Bakasetas 22' yellowcard
  • Christos Zafeiris 63' yellowcard
  • goal Ollie Watkins 7'
  • yellowcard Jude Bellingham 11'
  • yellowcard Conor Gallagher 11'
  • yellowcard Jordan Pickford 27'
  • goal Odysseas Vlachodimos 78' (OG)
  • goal Curtis Jones 83'

England lineup vs. Greece: Predicted XI for Lee Carsley's penultimate UEFA Nations League match

Kane and Bellingham, but no Saka, Rice, Palmer: Predicted England lineup vs. Greece

England will be without a host of first-team stars for Thursday's away encounter with Greece in League B Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League.

Interim boss Lee Carsley announced a 26-man squad last week, but Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Aaron Ramsdale and Jarrad Branthwaite have now all pulled out.

The Three Lions will also be without injured quintet John Stones, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Eberechi Eze, while the likes of Marcus Rashford, Nick Pope and James Maddison have all been omitted.

As a result of the mass withdrawal, Carsley called up Jarrod Bowen, Valentino Livramento, James Trafford and Morgan Rogers on Monday evening, the latter of whom has earned his first senior call-up along with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Lewis Hall. Jarell Quansah, meanwhile, linked up with the senior group on Wednesday following Branthwaite's withdrawal.

Manchester City's Kyle Walker is not 100% fit but he is in contention to feature on Thursday, while Dominic Solanke will be assessed after jarring his knee in Tottenham Hotspur's defeat to Ipswich Town last weekend.

If Walker is not deemed fit to start, then either Livramento or Rico Lewis may play at right-back. Lewis is also in contention to play at left-back and could battle for a start with uncapped Hall.

With Jordan Pickford expected to continue between the sticks, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi are the most likely due to start in central defence, while Lille's Angel Gomes could be partnered by Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher in centre-midfield in the absence of Rice.

Jude Bellingham could also be considered for a deeper midfield role, but the Real Madrid man - who scored in England's shock 2-1 loss to Greece last month - will likely operate in the number 10 role as Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Bowen and Rogers all battle for starts out wide.

Captain Harry Kane has scored 17 goals in just 16 games for Bayern Munich this season and England's all-time record goalscorer is expected to lead the line ahead of both Solanke and Ollie Watkins.

England possible starting lineup: Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Guehi, Lewis; Gomes, Gallagher; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

> Click here to see how Greece could line up for this contest

POLL
Who will win Thursday's Nations League clash between Greece and England?
Greece 35%
Draw 18%
England 46%
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