England Under-21s Lose to Greece at Wembley

Lee Carsley's tenure as interim England manager suffered a significant setback with a surprising 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley, marking England's first loss to the team. Despite having previously secured two victories in the UEFA Nations League, Carsley opted for a risky attacking formation that failed to deliver, leaving his side with only two shots on target throughout the match. Jude Bellingham's late equalizer seemed to salvage a point until Vangelis Pavlidis netted a stoppage-time winner for Greece, leading to widespread criticism of Carsley's tactics. In the aftermath, Carsley expressed uncertainty about his future, stating he would not rule himself in or out for the permanent role, while emphasizing his comfort with his current position. The loss has raised doubts about his candidacy for the head coach position, despite initial optimism following his earlier successes. His confusing post-match comments and the lack of clarity in his tactical approach have further complicated his prospects of succeeding Gareth Southgate.