What Lee Carsley bought proper and mistaken as England avenge October’s Greek oddity

England have bounced back from their Wembley Greek tragedy last month.

The Three Lions, clipped on home soil, roared back into action in Southern Europe’s winter heat. Ollie Watkins got the party started, converting after some fantastic work from Noni Madueke down the right-hand side.

Lee Carsley’s side would have to wait for their second, eventually coming in the 77th minute before Curtis Jones rounded out a dream debut nabbing a third. And Daily Star Sport has a look at what Carsley got right and wrong on Thursday evening.

Starting Ollie Watkins

Lee Carsley made a big call on Thursday evening, dropping Harry Kane. Ahead of the game, he told ITV: “He’s fine. He wants to play. His attitude has been fantastic. It’s important that we give players a chance and I’m sure Ollie will do really well tonight.”

It took less than seven minutes for Watkins to repay the faith the interim boss had placed in him, sweeping the ball home from a Noni Madueke cut back.

“Brilliant move from England. A brilliant finish,” Lee Dixon said on ITV. “Madueke has been in sparkling form for his club. You saw there where he sprinted past four Greece players and that man [Watkins] just stood in space.”

Jude Bellingham in the No.10

Jude Bellingham had looked lost at times in recent games as Lee Carsley handed him a free role.

The Real Madrid ace was more rigid tonight, playing in the more traditional No.10 and it helped. “The No.10 back with Jude Bellingham where it belongs,” one fan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I think I like Bellingham for England a lot more. It’s a bit weird seeing him not having to do much defensively though,” a second said. And another added: “Jude Bellingham is actually so good at football!”

Kyle Walker’s captaincy

There were a few eyebrows raised ahead of kick off on Thursday when Kyle Walker was handed the captain’s armband with the absence of Harry Kane.

However, aside from Walker, Lee Carsley’s backline was relatively inexperienced – consisting of Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Rico Lewis – on the international stage. With Greece threatening to get back into the game around the hour mark, Walker’s experience was invaluable.

It was Walker commanding the defensive line, making the call when to press; making the call when to drop; shuffling them across the line.

Blooding the youth

It was a young side named by Lee Carsley, but that has been the theme of his time as the Three Lions’ interim boss.

The U21s boss has used his platform to introduce new stars to the senior side. Curtis Jones was the latest name to make his debut on Thursday – starting in the middle alongside Jude Bellingham and Conor Gallagher.

“You could put Curtis Jones in a hydraulic press and he’d still come out with the ball,” one fan joked, commenting on his performance. While a second shared: “Curtis Jones is an unbelievable footballer, obviously I hate him, but what a player.”

Leaving it late

The bottom line was England needed to win by two to avoid a trip to the playoffs – should they finish second in the group.

England had their chances, but there just wasn’t enough of them. Aside from Watkins’ goal and a half-chance in the second half for the Aston Villa star, there wasn’t really a lot to shout about.

That was until the final 13 minutes, the Three Lions got their second, but it came via Odysseas Vlachodimos sticking the ball into the back of his own net. Curtis Jones would round out the evening, with a moment of magic.