Lee Carsley reveals that he is spoken with incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel forward of his closing set of fixtures as Three Lions head coach
Lee Carsley revealed that he’s already spoken with incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel – but insisted the German has not had any influence on the latest squad.
Current Three Lions interim boss Carsley shocked many as he announced his squad for the final UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and Ireland on Thursday.
The 50-year-old named uncapped stars Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Lewis Hall in the squad that will partake in the matches next week.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea boss Tuchel officially starts work on January 1 after signing a deal with the Three Lions that will run until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
And Carsley revealed that he has already had contact with the German and insisted that Tuchel had no influence over the latest squad selection – which Mail Sport revealed earlier in the week.
Interim England boss Lee Carsley named his final England squad on Thursday afternoon
Thomas Tuchel (above) did not influence the selection of England’s next squad on Thursday
Carsley said: ‘He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations.
‘I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.
‘We’ve been left to it, like we always have, I still see this as a massive privilege and the trust the FA have shown us in the last three camps, this is the final two games.
‘We’re looking forward to a tough game in Greece and the Republic of Ireland at home, two games we’re looking forward to.’
England head to the Olympic Stadium in Athens next Thursday to face Greece, who have a three-point cushion over them at the top of Group B2.
The international year ends with the Wembley showdown against Ireland – the nation Carsley represented as a player – three days later.
Meanwhile, Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall and Southampton centre-half Taylor Harwood-Bellis were given first England call-ups in Carsley’s final squad.
England will head to the Olympic Stadium in Athens next Thursday to face Greece
John Stones and Kobbie Mainoo are ruled out with injuries, but Declan Rice, Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer are included despite fitness issues of their own.
Uncapped Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is also back in the squad after his maiden call-up for last month’s games against Greece and Finland.
The 23-year-old was part of the Euro 2024 training camp and was last month drafted in as an injury replacement by Carsley, only to withdraw after the Greece game due to the birth of his daughter.
